The India Business Forum, South Africa, in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in Johannesburg, proudly supported the soft launch of the Africa AI Skilling Initiative by IBF member JNS Cloud Solutions in partnership with upGrad Enterprise. This initiative marks an important step toward equipping talent across Africa with future-ready AI and digital skills aligned with evolving industry needs, further strengthening India–Africa collaboration.

The session featured remarks by H.E. Mr. Harish Kumar, Consul General of India, who emphasized that “AI upskilling is no longer optional—it is essential for inclusive growth and global competitiveness.” Mr. Nihar Patnaik, President, CII-IBF (SA), highlighted that this initiative builds on the momentum of the recent AI engagement hosted by IBF, reflecting a continued commitment to future skills.

Mr. Nagaraju Gurrella, CEO of JNS Cloud Solutions, noted that “collaboration is the catalyst thGlobalat transforms vision into scalable impact,” while Mr. Dhruv Mehta, Head of Business, upGrad Enterprise, shared that “upskilling today is the foundation for tomorrow’s digital economy.”

The event also marked the official launch of the initiative’s website https://www.jnsgroups.com/skilling.html and the formal signing of collaboration documents, symbolizing a strong commitment to advancing digital capabilities across the continent. IBF remains dedicated to enabling such meaningful partnerships that drive innovation, skills development, and long-term impact.