President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the restoration of direct flights between South Africa and India as part of efforts to expand trade and investment between the two countries.

Writing in his weekly newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa said his visit to New Delhi for the BRICS summit included meetings with Indian companies considering new investments or expanding existing operations.

According to the president, India is South Africa’s fourth-largest trading partner. More than 150 Indian companies have invested over US$10 billion locally, creating employment for more than 18 000 South Africans.

Ramaphosa identified pharmaceuticals and health technology as areas where Indian expertise could help expand South African medicine and vaccine production. He also highlighted opportunities in digital services and processing critical minerals for batteries, renewable energy, and vehicle manufacturing.

“To turn this potential into practical partnerships, we are keen to restore direct flights between South Africa and India,” he said.