New Delhi: A new phase in Indo-African relations will begin on Monday when the mammoth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) kicks off in the capital with participation from all 54 African nations. This will include heads of state and government of about 40 countries at the summit where enhancement of trade ties, particularly in the oil and gas sector, deliberations on the status of Indian welfare development projects in Africa, stepping up maritime cooperation and discussing the menace of terrorism will be the main agenda.
The summit is being seen as India’s effort to counter-balance growing Chinese influence in the continent. India will also be strongly mobilising African support for reforms in the UN Security Council in which New Delhi hopes to be a permanent member. India’s current trade with Africa is around US$ 75 billion and it has allocated a whopping $ 7.4 billion for various developmental and capacity building projects in the last four years. In the last 15 years, India’s trade with Africa has gone up 20 times. India also has a total investment of US$ 30 to 35 billion in Africa. India has implemented a total of 137 projects in 41 African countries during the period. Expanding trade ties will be a major focus area at the summit which will see participation of over 400 business delegates from Africa. A large number of African countries have huge oil and gas reserves and India wants to invest in the sector to fuel its economic growth.
India will also fully support Africa’s “Agenda 2063”, the African Union’s 50-year plan to develop the continent and a joint action plan will be finalised by the two sides following the third India-Africa Forum summit. India is also home to about 2.7 million Indian diaspora who have a powerful hold on the economy in the African countries.
But it is not just the cold business and economic interests that are driving the Indo-African relationship. India is also leveraging the strong “emotional’ links with the African continent which include Mahatma Gandhi’s historical links with South Africa, the support lent to African countries in the 1950s and 60s in their fight against colonialism and also the support to the struggle against apartheid and racial discrimination.
As Modi said recently, “This is a relationship that is beyond strategic considerations. It is a relationship with a strong emotional link. It has been forged by our intersecting history; our centuries-old ties of kinship, commerce and culture; our common struggle against colonialism; our quest for equality, dignity and justice among all people; and, our shared aspirations for our progress and a voice in the world. We are blessed with vast reservoir of mutual goodwill and confidence.”
“While India and Africa will both do much on their own to advance prosperity and peace for their people, our partnership can be a source of great strength for each other, both to reinforce and accelerate each other’s economic development and to build a more just, inclusive, equitable and sustainable world. We have complementary resources and markets; and, the power of our human capital. We have shared global vision,” the PM said, adding, “Africa’s development is a huge opportunity for India, just as Africa’s resources, including oil and power, India’s economic growth can create wealth and jobs in Africa. The continent’s progress will add great stability and momentum to the global economy.”
The PM had further noted, “India has emerged as a major investor from the developing world in Africa, surpassing even China,” adding, “our areas of focus will continue to be on human resource development, institution building, infrastructure, clean energy, agriculture, health, education and skill development. We will also work together on addressing climate change and sustainable development of blue economy”.
