Ramaphosa Urges New Economic Era With India After BRICS Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa called for a new era of economic relations between South Africa and India following the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. After the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, which focuses on sustainable resource management and resilient supply chains for critical minerals, Ramaphosa praised India's leadership as the BRICS chair for achieving consensus among the expanded member nations.

During a bilateral meeting and a South Africa-India CEOs Roundtable, Ramaphosa urged businesses to move beyond policy discussions toward commercially viable projects. He identified renewable energy, green hydrogen, digital innovation, and pharmaceuticals as priority sectors. He specifically proposed combining South African mineral resources with Indian manufacturing to advance electric vehicle and battery production. To support these goals, Ramaphosa invited Indian companies to invest in 195 strategic integrated projects valued at over $100 billion, covering hospitals, water infrastructure, and transport networks.

Ramaphosa also advocated for the restoration of direct flights between the two nations to facilitate deeper cooperation. He emphasized that South Africa must leverage its membership in the expanded BRICS grouping—which now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—to attract investment and foster a more inclusive global economy centered on the United Nations. He invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit South Africa next year to mark the 30th anniversary of the two nations' strategic partnership.