India is firmly committed to Africa’s socio-economic, technological and human resources development and partners the African governments in a consultative, participative and responsive manner based on Africa’s own assessment of their needs. Stating this in her address at the Inaugural Session of the 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership being held in New Delhi, Ms Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India, said that India will continue to play a catalytic role in Africa’s capacity building initiatives.
Ms Kaur noted that the high level African participation at the Conclave was a clear recognition of the huge potentials of India-Africa economic and business ties. Seven Heads of State, 42 senior ministers and nearly 900 officials and business delegates from Africa are taking part in the Conclave deliberations, and 475 projects worth about $85 billion are being discussed.
Mr Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, said in his address that roads and railroad development, mining, agro-processing, energy, irrigation, healthcare and ICT as the most promising areas of cooperation between India and Africa. He said that the Ivorian government is taking key steps to enhance the country’s peace and security, national reconciliation and economic recovery, creating a highly favourable destination for global investors, especially from India.
Mr Duncan added that Cote d’Ivoire is the gateway to western African markets, and is a member of the West African Economic & Monetary Union and ECOWAS. So, companies investing in Cote d’Ivoire will enjoy access to a much broader regional market. He also said that India will be a key partner for Cote d’Ivoire in its quest to become an emerging economy by 2020.
Mr Gervais Rufyikiri, 2nd Vice President, Republic of Burundi, said in his address that the India-Africa partnership exemplifies all aspects of the Istanbul Action Program that supports the least developed economies to leverage the South-South Cooperation framework for their own economic development and to gain access to new technologies and capacity building support systems.
Focusing attention on Burundi’s bilateral ties with India, Mr Rufyikiri said his government has undertaken simplification of procedures to draw Indian investors to Burundi. He pointed out that Burundi has rapidly moved up the World Bank ranking of countries on the ease of doing business. He urged Indians to visit Burundi and experience the country’s rich natural habitat.
Mr Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Vice President of Uganda, said in his address that Africa needs India’s expertise for converting its natural resources into productive assets. He also underlined India’s critical role in building Africa’s human resources base, and in helping African industry move up the global value chain.
Mr Adi Godrej, President, CII identified five key steps to foster stronger India-Africa economic cooperation, namely, expand the bilateral trade basket, enhance regional diversification of the bilateral trade, promote investment-led trade, promote economic cooperation in the services sector, and fast-track bilateral cooperation in human resources development.
Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII welcomed the delegates in his opening remarks, and Mr Syamal Gupta proposed the vote of thanks.