Newly appointed South African High Commissioner to Dhaka, Anil Sooklal, has said his country is committed to opening an embassy in Bangladesh as soon as funding is allocated. He noted that Bangladesh and South Africa face similar challenges, including poverty, inequality, and unemployment, and that his country is eager to share its development experience. Sooklal revealed that the idea of establishing an embassy was first proposed by Nelson Mandela during his 1997 visit to Bangladesh. He added that if a new mission opens in the region, it will be in Bangladesh. The envoy expressed interest in Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical, garment, and agricultural sectors, and is working to arrange a high-level bilateral visit.