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 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