New Delhi, July 20 (Representative) With the Covid pandemic and the knock-on effects of the Ukraine war impacting the world, India and Africa can collaborate in the sectors of health, digital and green growth as well as in food and energy security, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday.Africa plays a particularly important role in India’s foreign policy outlook, which is reflected in its expanding diplomatic footprint that today covers 43 African countries, Jaishankar said in his address at the 17th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership.He said that in the last eight years (since the Modi government took over) there has been stepped up engagement with the continent, with 36 high level visits from India and more than 100 similar ones from Africa.He said that post the 2015 India-Africa Forum Summit, the intensified engagement with Africa underlines Prime Minister Modi’s personal commitment to greater equity and sustainable development.He said India, being a trusted partner of Africa in the journey of socio-economic development, has extended concessional loans of over US$ 12.3 billion to the continent. “We have completed 197 projects so far, 65 more are currently under execution and 81 at the pre-execution stage. In addition, India has granted US$ 700 mn of grant assistance. Our development projects in various sectors such as drinking water schemes to irrigation, rural solar electrification, power plants, transmission lines, cement, sugar & textile factories, technology parks, railway infrastructure, etc. have generated local employment and changed the life of many people in Africa.”
Jaishankar said the presence of senior dignitaries from African countries in Tuesday’s event in New Delhi “is itself a reminder of the benefits of cooperation”.Enunciating some of the projects, he said in Gambia, India constructed the National Assembly building and has undertaken projects in water supply, agriculture and food processing. In Zambia, India has been involved in an important hydro-power project, in the erection of pre-fabricated health posts and in the supply of vehicles. In Mauritius, India’s recent projects include the metro express, the new Supreme Court and social housing. In Namibia, a new Centre of Excellence in IT has become operational. In South Sudan, as with other African partners, India is focusing on training and education and welcomes new opportunities for cooperation.During the pandemic, India tried to make a real difference to the continent’s ability to cope with the pandemic. 32 African countries received a 150 tonnes of medical assistance from India. Many of them also utilized ‘Made in India’ vaccines received directly or otherwise from us. At international forums, both sides worked together to press for equitable and affordable access to vaccines, including through a TRIPS waiver.Stressing on the importance of human resources, he said India is committed to enhancing capacity building and skill development among African youth. He recalled that in 2015 India had announced 50,000 scholarships during IAFS-III, of which more than 32,000 scholarship slots have already been utilized.
“It is a matter of pride for us that several high-ranking leaders, ministers, officials from Africa have studied in Indian universities and other institutions,” he pointed out.A number of students and officials from Africa have been trained under the ITEC program. To provide high quality virtual education and medical services to our partners, the e-VidyaBharti and e-ArogyaBharti networks were launched in 2019 for tele-education and tele-medicine respectively. Under these initiatives, youth from 19 African countries have enrolled for various degree and diploma courses. India has helped African countries to promote digital transformation through setting-up of IT Centres, Science & Technology Parks and Entrepreneur Development Centres (EDC). I think there is ample scope in the sphere of technology, and with our emphasis on trust and transparency, India and Africa make natural partners, the EAM stressed. He recounted the number of times India has stood by its African friends in times of need. India has often been the first responder in times of disaster, and launched Operation Sahayata to assist cyclone IDAI-hit Mozambique in 2019, Operation Vanilla to provide relief to flood victims in Madagascar in January 2020, and provided support to Mauritius in containing the oil spill due to the grounding of ship Wakashio.He cited the Indian initiative of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), launched in 2019, and invited African countries to join it in greater numbers.He also cited the International Solar Alliance that has promoted the rapid development of clean energy technologies, and the ‘One Sun One World One Grid’ initiative to further promote solar and renewable energy.On the trade and economic front, he said India’s bilateral trade with Africa has now reached US$ 89.5 billion in 2021-22 compared with USD 56 bn the previous year.
India is among the top five investors in Africa.“Through the Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme that extends duty free access to 98.2 per cent of India’s total tariff lines, India has opened its market to African countries. So far 33 LDC African nations have been entitled to get benefits under this scheme. We hope that the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) which was commenced in 2021 would be helpful to Indian companies to enhance and intensify the business footprint in Africa,” the EAM added.Citing Covid and the Ukraine war and its aftermath, he said that it is worth considering how India and Africa can make the triad of health, digital and green growth the focus of their collaboration. “This is as much a business opportunity as it is a public policy.”“In India, there is a growing recognition of the need of Atma Nirbharta, self-reliance. Responsible governance today requires that critical needs of people are not held hostage by the vagaries and uncertainties of international markets. Food security and energy security have come into special focus in the context of the Ukraine conflict. Here too, India and Africa can work together for mutual benefit,” the EAM said.