India-Africa Relations

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India-Africa Relations

News Highlight

For India to be remembered as the voice of the Global South through the G20 presidency, it needs to understand the mood and changes in Africa.

Key Takeaway

  • Through the G20 presidency, India intends to be remembered as the voice of the Global South, at the heart of which is Africa.
  • Most of the 54 countries of this continent are developing or least developed.
  • The second U.S.-Africa summit was held in Washington from December 13 to 15. 
  • The leaders of 49 countries and the African Union (AU) chair participated in Africa.

India-Africa Relations

  • Overview
    • India has expressed its complete sympathy for the aspirations of the African people to become independent.
    • India has transmitted technology using various methods, including direct foreign investment in lucrative industries like agriculture, mining, export, and petroleum.
    • Moreover, India has strategic reasons to be interested in Africa, particularly the Horn of Africa, a vital shipping route connecting the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.
    • The other method for transferring technology embedded in goods and services has been traded.
    • However, India’s collaboration with African nations regarding trade has not been a priority, and as a result, from the 1960s to 1970s and even after that, it stagnated.
    • This trade has also been restricted to a few African nations, including Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, etc.
    • In addition, India has also invested significantly in training facilities to enable the locals to participate actively in managing and advancing various projects.
    • Furthermore, personnel from these nations has access to training facilities in India.

Significance of India-Africa Relations

  • Resurging Africa and Rising India
    • South-South Cooperation may benefit significantly, particularly in fields like clean technology, climate-resilient agriculture, maritime security, connectivity, and the blue economy.
  • Convergence of interest in WTO
    • India and Africa share a similar stance on the open problems at the WTO and support multilateral trading systems.
    • At the Bali Ministerial in 2013, Africa and India also agreed to pursue an interim mechanism to protect farmers’ minimum support prices from WTO caps until a permanent solution is discovered and accepted.
  • Energy security
    • India will benefit from diversifying Africa’s energy sources.
    • Furthermore, Africa can play a significant part in India’s energy matrix as it seeks to diversify its oil supplies away from the Middle East.
  • Cooperation to tackle terrorism
    • India strongly supported increased cooperation with 54 African nations through intelligence sharing and training.
  • Open and Free Oceans
    • India wants to increase collaboration with African nations so that the waters remain open and uncongested for the good of all countries.
  • Nontraditional threats
    • The Indian Navy has been deployed more frequently for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) operations in the past ten years due to heightened regional instability and nontraditional threats in the Indian Ocean region.

What steps can be taken to enhance India-Africa Relationship?

  • A clear strategy for African development
    • The effectiveness of India’s development cooperation programme will increase by focusing on a few key areas, such as gender equality, climate change adaptation, and food security and health security.
  • Utilise NGOs and the Indian diaspora, as well as civil society organisations in India
    • To accomplish development initiatives in Africa at a minimal cost, the government should investigate expanding its cooperation with them.
    • Several Indian institutions, such as Pratham and Barefoot College, already significantly impact Africa.
  • Project completion on schedule
    • Initiatives must be taken to quicken the LoC projects
    • It is essential to learn from other nations with considerably better implementation records.
  • Maintain the current emphasis on capacity building
    • An Africa that is only concerned with expanding its physical infrastructure and economy will not be stable or wealthy. 
    • In addition, the key to development in Africa is an investment in human capital.
  • Enhance Africans’ experiences in India
    • The Indian government should ensure that Africans studying or working there are safe and have a good time there. 
    • Additionally, to strengthen the people-to-people ties between India and Africa, efforts should be undertaken to educate Indians about Africa.
India-Africa

India-Africa Forum Summit

  • Firstly, the most recent India-Africa Forum Summit lasted from November 4 to November 6, 2020.
  • In addition, in 2008, the inaugural summit took place in New Delhi.
  • The recent India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) had as its central theme the strengthening of connections to the 100*100 matrix by 2025.
  • This represents the goal of increasing commerce and investment between India and Africa by 100 billion USD.

Conclusion

  • The priorities of Africa should serve as the guide for the future development partnership.
  • It should take place under conditions that are agreeable to Africa, unleash its potential, and do not limit its future.
  • Furthermore, India should work with African countries under the Gujral Doctrine of Generosity rather than Reciprocity.

Pic Courtesy: The Hindu

Content Source: The Hindu

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