South African Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile met with Lakshminarayana Neti, Chief Operating Officer at Biological E Limited in Hyderabad, to develop a partnership focused on vaccine innovation.
During the meeting, Deputy President Mashatile highlighted the importance of Indian pharmaceutical companies investing in South Africa. “Our meeting comes at a time when South Africa is intensifying its efforts to build resilient health systems, expand local manufacturing capacity, and deepen economic relations with trusted partners such as India. We welcome the prospect of extending this partnership to include technology transfer for the whole-cell 6-in-1 vaccine, which will be critical for future immunisation programmes across Africa,” he said.
The working visit to India aims to strengthen relations, enhance cooperation, and reinforce ties between South Africa and India.
Earlier on June 4, Mashatile and Indian Vice President CP Radhakrishnan held a working meeting in New Delhi, focusing on promoting deeper economic cooperation and stronger strategic relations between the two nations. The meeting was conducted at the Vice President’s Enclave and included the South African delegation and their Indian counterparts as part of Mashatile’s working visit to identify strategic partnerships and expand economic opportunities.
During discussions, Deputy President Mashatile and Vice President Radhakrishnan stressed the significance of leaders exchanging experiences. “The exchange of perspectives at this level is not only symbolic but practical; it allows us to draw lessons from our respective journeys, to refine our approaches to governance, and to inspire our peoples with a vision of shared progress,” Mashatile stated.
He also emphasised the potential for greater collaboration between the two countries, noting, “India, with its advanced capabilities in digital innovation, manufacturing, and healthcare, provides avenues for collaboration that can uplift economies for both countries.” Furthermore, he identified key sectors in South Africa for future investment, including renewable energy, mining beneficiation, pharmaceuticals, information and communication technology (ICT), and infrastructure development.