The great and the good from South Africa’s business community arrived in Moscow on Monday to kick start a new era in business relations, with renewable energy on the watch list.

South Africa is the newest addition to the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) group of developing economies that are racing ahead.  

President Dmitry Medvedev gave the new arrivals the thumbs up at the World Economic forum in Davos last month, welcoming them into BRICS. The African nation will join the BRICS summit in China in April.

Renewable tension

Renewable energies were one of the several industries on the delegation’s members’ list, alongside ostrich farming, wine production, diamonds and others.

Cooperation over an energy source which would seem to rival Russia’s gas and oil cash cows might not seem like a recipe for harmonious dealings.

But Herman Murwa Radali, managing director of Murwa consulting firm and representing South African renewable energy with the Moscow delegation, is optimistic.

“You must have a basket, you cannot rely only on one source of energy and these sorts of energies (fossil and renewable) complement one another,” he told The Moscow News.

 “The market is open and having invited South Africa to be part of BRICS, the two have a special relationship…I do not see much of a chance for conflict as not only is South Africa welcomed by Russia, but also because South Africa is a gateway to African countries, because there is more infrastructure and because we have a good relationship with other African countries,” he said.

On board for the future

“By 2020, the BRIC countries are expected to contribute nearly half of all global GDP growth. I am delighted that South Africa is now a part of this winning team.” Riaan Le Roux, acting deputy director general of the Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa said in a press release ahead of the summit.

“There is enormous potential for Russia and South Africa to grow our business links – from aerospace and agriculture to energy.  Not to mention sharing experiences of hosting the World Cup!” he added.