In the course of last year the CDC put greater focus on Asia in order to take advantage of increasing flows of capital from emerging markets.

CDC business development manager Belu Mabandla said that in the course of a few visits to the two Asian countries, the CDC had managed to gain the interest of 15 companies.

The total value of investments being negotiated among Indian companies, primarily in the metals and automotive sectors, was more than R16-billion. It is possible that three investments from the South Asian nation could be signed in the 2008/09 financial year. Afro-Asia Steel has already signed a R75-million deal for development at Coega IDZ.