Minister Parks Tau Leads Delegation to India

From August 25 to 29, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, led a high-level delegation to Mumbai and Delhi at the invitation of India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. The mission aimed to strengthen bilateral trade ties, deepen economic cooperation, and explore new market opportunities between the two nations.

The visit comes amid growing efforts by Minister Tau and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen to diversify South Africa’s trade partnerships, in response to the challenges posed by tariffs from traditional trading partners.

India is currently South Africa’s fourth-largest trading partner and also ranks as the fourth-largest consumer market globally. With projections indicating that India will become the world’s second-largest consumer market by 2030, the scope for expanding trade between the two countries is immense.

Ahead of the trip, the South African Pecan Producers Association (SAPPA) submitted a formal letter to Minister Tau, outlining the strategic importance of the pecan industry. The letter included detailed industry statistics, such as total hectares under cultivation, production tonnage, and the sector’s contribution to GDP and rural employment.

SAPPA’s primary requests included:

1. A reduction in the current 30% import duty on pecan nuts.
2. The establishment of a Plant Quarantine Protocol for both pecan kernels and in-shell pecans.

The association hopes these proposals will support increased access to the Indian market and boost future pecan exports from South Africa.