Former Durban deputy mayor and council speaker Logie Naidoo is set to represent South Africa at the 12th World Tamils Economic Conference and the 2025 Global Economic Summit in Washington DC this week, bringing his political pedigree and economic expertise to a high-profile international platform.
The gathering, hosted from 3–5 October at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Centre in Maryland, will draw business leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from across the globe under the banner of the World Tamils Economic Foundation (WTEF) and the Madras Development Society (MDS), convened by Dr VRS. Sampath.
Naidoo, who spearheaded the inaugural Tamil economic summit at Durban’s ICC in 2017, said the South African conference “laid the foundation for successive global gatherings” in Pondicherry, Mauritius, Malaysia, and Dubai. “This Washington event brings together Tamil-speaking leaders and influential figures in government and business for three days of discussions on trade, investment, and innovation,” he noted before departing for the US.
During his two decades in public office, Naidoo championed economic diplomacy, including Durban’s pioneering twinning agreement with Chennai, a relationship he believes can be leveraged further in light of the conference’s focus on the US-India business climate. “While the roots are Tamil, the reach is global. From major corporates to SMEs, the summit is a platform for inclusive growth,” he said.
The conference will feature sessions on artificial intelligence, start-ups, women’s leadership, diaspora issues, and real estate and agricultural investment, alongside cultural programmes and networking dinners. Distinguished participants include Dr Rajan Natarajan, former Maryland Deputy Secretary of State; Nepoleon Duraisamy, former Indian Union Minister; and business leaders linked to the US-India SME Council.
Other key participants are Dr VRS Sampath, founder-president, Madras Development Society and key organiser of the World Tamils Economic Foundation; committee members Caldwell Velnambi, Elisha Pulivarti, CEO of US-India SME Council, Rajaram Srinivasan, Veera Venugopal, Ram Prasad, Bala Balaswaminathan, Ezhil Ramarajan, Balagan Arumugasamy, Dr John Joseph, Wordsworth Ayyadurai and Senthil Malaikolundhu Kumar.
High-level political figures such as the former president of Mauritius and the former prime minister of Guyana are also expected to attend. The event will culminate with the prestigious Crown Jewel of Business Leaders Awards, honouring outstanding Tamil-origin entrepreneurs.
For Naidoo, the summit is both a homecoming to the global Tamil diaspora and an opportunity to spotlight South Africa’s economic potential in conversations about trade, investment, and innovation.
