The Gujarat Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) to give a boost to bilateral trade, an industry body official said.
JCCI has signed MoUs with many industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at city level, but this is the first time they have signed an MoU with a state in India, JCCI Chairman, Mr Keith Brebnor said.
“The MoU reaffirms a spirit of cooperation and how we will expand trade between ourselves,” he added.
Investments focus
A high-level delegation from Gujarat had visited several South African cities to attract investments into the State.
Additional Principal Secretary to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Girish Chandra Murmu said South Africa’s expertise in the mining, engineering and chemicals sectors would find favour in Gujarat.
The High Commissioner of India in South Africa, Mr Virendra Gupta highlighted Gujarat’s skill in diamond cutting and the cooperative dairy project of Amul as areas from which South Africa could benefit.
“Very good partnerships of mutual benefit could be established with Gujarat,” Mr Gupta said.
The delegation will also be visiting Tanzania and Kenya, where there are sizeable Gujaratis in the business sector, to invite them to the 6th edition of the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January 2013.