India Eyes Mining, Infrastructure Growth in South Africa

24 Sep 2025 CW Team

The South African government’s easing of mining regulations and privatisation of infrastructure presents significant opportunities for Indian businesses, according to Nitin Agrawal, Group Chairman of Oza Holdings, which has interests in mining and manufacturing.

Agrawal addressed 36 business leaders from the NPO Young Indians, part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), during a delegation visit to South Africa under the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance. Indian Consul General in Johannesburg, Mahesh Kumar, facilitated interactions with local business leaders, government officials, and business school representatives.

Highlighting South Africa’s well-established mineral reserves and developed infrastructure, Agrawal said Indian firms can benefit from easier access to mining licences and improved regulatory frameworks. He noted the government’s focus on upgrading rail and port operations, which is expected to enhance mining competitiveness in 2026.

The privatisation programme and push for local beneficiation of minerals offer further prospects for Indian businesses, particularly in value-added products, ferro alloy production, mining machinery, and ancillary sectors. Agrawal emphasised that Indian companies’ agility positions them to thrive in challenging markets, citing successes in pharma, IT, mining, and secondary steel industries.

Despite challenges such as power shortages and limited water resources, Indian expertise in skills transfer and manufacturing can strengthen South Africa’s workforce and infrastructure. Initiatives like diamond cutting and polishing units in industrial development zones demonstrate the potential for collaboration in beneficiation, employment generation, and local manufacturing.

Consul General Kumar encouraged Indian companies to propose solutions benefiting South Africa and the broader southern African region, reinforcing the growing India–South Africa partnership in mining and infrastructure investment.

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..