TVS chair Sudarshan Venu calls for deeper India-Africa ties

Sudarshan Venu , chairman, TVS Motor , emphasised the potential for collaboration between India and Africa in the era of globalisation at the inaugural session of the 20th CII India Africa Business Conclave.

Venu also highlighted India’s position as the fastest-growing economy in the world, as well as its strong investments in AI, healthcare, and fintech. He also talked about Africa’s vast and untapped customer and infrastructure opportunities. “The focus should be on leveraging these synergies by not just serving consumers, but by driving deeper social and economic engagement,” he said.

He also underlined the pillars that constitute a successful partnership: value creation, strong customer connect, quality, and customisation of local realities. Venu, who also chaired the conclave, exhorted businesses in both India and Africa to build long-term partnerships that go beyond a transactional nature and foster sustainable growth.

Venu also spoke on TVS Motor’s role in deepening India-Africa ties. “TVS Motor has been powering mobility in Africa for more than 20 years now, and we remain committed to investing in and harnessing the immense potential of the continent,” he added.

The conclave at which Venu was speaking was themed “Synergies toward Co-Creating a Shared Future,” brought together leaders from industry, government and institutions to explore avenues of cooperation and collaboration between India and Africa.

TVS posted its highest-ever quarterly sales of 3.52 lakh exports in the first quarter, driven by strong growth in major markets. “In Africa, the demand is becoming stable, and there are countries which are doing very well. We are very positive that this growth will continue to sustain, and there is a good opportunity for TVS to gain further,” said K.N. Radhakrishnan, CEO, TVS Motor, at the company’s first-quarter earnings call.

For the quarter ended June 30, two and three-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor recorded its highest-ever quarterly sales of 12.77 lakh units, growing 17% from the corresponding period last year. That corresponded to a first-quarter net profit that surged 35% to ₹779 crore. Its revenue also grew by 20% to ₹10,081 crore. Despite motorcycle volumes declining by 9% in the first quarter, TVS has been an outlier, with its volumes increasing by 3% in the same period, according to a report by Motilal Oswal.