Telangana, South Africa Explore Cooperation in Skilled Workforce, Medical Tourism and Investments
Hyderabad, June 3 (TNT): Telangana and South Africa on Wednesday agreed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of skilled workforce development, medical tourism, education and investments during a high-level bilateral meeting between Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile in Hyderabad.
The meeting, attended by Telangana Ministers D. Sridhar Babu and C. Damodar Raja Narsimha, focused on enhancing economic and institutional partnerships between Telangana and South Africa while exploring new opportunities for collaboration in key growth sectors.
During the discussions, Revanth Reddy highlighted Hyderabad’s emergence as a leading knowledge and innovation hub, backed by a strong educational and skill development ecosystem catering to sectors such as information technology, pharmaceuticals, defence and aerospace.
The Chief Minister said Hyderabad has become one of the world’s preferred destinations for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) of Fortune 500 companies and is rapidly strengthening its position as a global hub for skilled manpower.
He also showcased Hyderabad’s world-class healthcare infrastructure, noting that the city attracts patients from across India and several foreign countries, particularly from the Middle East, for affordable and high-quality medical treatment.
The Telangana government is committed to further enhancing the city’s stature as a global destination for medical tourism, he said.
Recalling the success of the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025, which attracted global investors, diplomats and industry leaders, Revanth Reddy invited the South African leadership and business community to participate in the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2026 scheduled to be held in December.
Responding positively, South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile said he would be honoured to attend the summit along with a delegation from South Africa.
The Chief Minister also briefed the delegation on the proposed Bharat Future City project, a 30,000-acre net-zero greenfield urban development planned near Hyderabad’s international airport, which is envisioned as a global-standard sustainable city.
IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu invited leading South African industrialists and entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in Telangana and engage with the state’s growing industrial ecosystem.
Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narsimha highlighted Hyderabad’s global prominence in the production of bulk drugs and vaccines and outlined the government’s plans to establish mega hospitals to further strengthen healthcare services.
Speaking on the occasion, Mashatile said India and South Africa share deep historical, cultural and economic ties. He noted that South Africa provides Indian companies with preferential access to markets across the African continent through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), creating significant opportunities for sectors such as pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
He said the partnership could pave the way for the establishment of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and broader business collaborations in South Africa.
The South African delegation included Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation T. Moraka, South African Ambassador to India A. Sooklal, Health Minister Dr. A. Motsoaledi, Minister of Small Business Development S. Ndabeni, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation N. Gina, and Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technology M. Gungubele.
Senior Telangana officials, including Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister V. Seshadri, were also present at the meeting.
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