India-Africa News and Discussion

The Strategic Issues & International Relations Forum is a venue to discuss issues pertaining to India's security environment, her strategic outlook on global affairs and as well as the effect of international relations in the Indian Subcontinent. We request members to kindly stay within the mandate of this forum and keep their exchanges of views, on a civilised level, however vehemently any disagreement may be felt. All feedback regarding forum usage may be sent to the moderators using the Feedback Form or by clicking the Report Post Icon in any objectionable post for proper action. Please note that the views expressed by the Members and Moderators on these discussion boards are that of the individuals only and do not reflect the official policy or view of the Bharat-Rakshak.com Website. Copyright Violation is strictly prohibited and may result in revocation of your posting rights - please read the FAQ for full details. Users must also abide by the Forum Guidelines at all times.
Lalmohan
BRF Oldie
Posts: 13262
Joined: 30 Dec 2005 18:28

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Lalmohan »

the mango african person's association with indian is as shop keeper and business man. across much of sub-saharan africa, there are already many indians in the mercantile community - and in countries which are former british colonies, there are large indian populations. there are negative connotations of being wealthier and either collaborating with colonial powers and/or corrupt regimes. some of this image has to be undone with more simple engagement. i wouldn't go down the route of cultural re-education though...
RajeshA
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16006
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 19:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

Indians should be inviting Africans to their homes and to their festivals, and should also join in in celebrating African festivals and culture. Indians have to learn African dialects and languages, and talk to them as being part of their community.

Now that India is again flourishing and airline tickets are cheap, the Indians in the diaspora can always come over to India to deepen their contacts with their origins, so the whole closed community mentality in the 21st century is so past its expiry date!

There is still some latent racism amongst Indians. I can only say, that racists don't have even a fraction of fun others have!
Klaus
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2168
Joined: 13 Dec 2009 12:28
Location: Cicero Avenue

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Klaus »

RajeshA wrote:
Are we now going to propose Hanuman was an African? :eek:
No, never made any specific suggestion such as that. It was an example given to show how the mango man of the dark continent could be civilizationally wooed over. Africa has many ethnicities which are animists and nature worshippers. This approach would be very organic instead of the high-flying methods of bureaucrat meetings.

I feel that the Gurukul system could make a very big impact in the continent.
Lalmohan
BRF Oldie
Posts: 13262
Joined: 30 Dec 2005 18:28

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Lalmohan »

be careful not to replace one patronising colonisation model with another...
Klaus
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2168
Joined: 13 Dec 2009 12:28
Location: Cicero Avenue

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Klaus »

Lalmohan wrote:be careful not to replace one patronising colonisation model with another...
Saar, please do not think that I'm insulting the intelligence of the mango abdul. They would know and spot any such colonization designs in a trice. My suggestions were to have holistic interactions at grassroot level rather than going at it with a high-flying suited-booted Western approach. After all, this is a continent having more diversity and ethnicities and almost the same population as India itself. Infact, it would be like Mother India looking at her own reflection in the lake.

A medley of approaches are required if India has to engage with another India. We are 99.5% similar onlee.
Lalmohan
BRF Oldie
Posts: 13262
Joined: 30 Dec 2005 18:28

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Lalmohan »

agreed - please take a look at the IA in Congo article i posted on the IA thread
Airavat
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2326
Joined: 29 Jul 2003 11:31
Location: dishum-bishum
Contact:

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Airavat »

Not directly related to India but still:

Bomb explosion kills 30 in Nigeria:

The group which called itself, Jama'atu ahlus-Sunnah Lidda'awati but popularly known as Boko Haram said on a website that mansoorah.net the attacks were carried out "to start avenging atrocities committed against Muslims in those areas and the country in general".
Ameet
BRFite
Posts: 841
Joined: 17 Nov 2006 02:49

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Ameet »

India to assist Ghana in $1.1-bn fertiliser project

http://www.sify.com/news/india-to-assis ... abbdh.html
Ameet
BRFite
Posts: 841
Joined: 17 Nov 2006 02:49

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Ameet »

Ethiopia offers India farmland for investment

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 409920.cms

n what could give a big boost to India's efforts at food security, Ethiopia has offered 1.8 million hectares of its farmland to Indian investors that equals nearly 40 percent of the total area of the principal grain-growing state of Punjab.

"So far we have transferred 307,000 hectares of land to foreign and domestic investors. Some 79 percent of this land has been transferred to Indian companies. This land is made available on a 70-year lease," said visiting Ethiopian Agriculture Minister Tefera Derbew .

"We are now proposing to transfer another 3.6 million hectares of land to investors from overseas. And I am confident that more than half of the 3.6 million hectares land will go to Indians," Derbew, who is here on a three-day official visit, told IANS in an interview.

The land offered by the East African nation, at the horn of the continent, equals nearly 50 percent of the cultivable land of Punjab, often called India's granary, accounting for 23 percent of its wheat and 10 percent of paddy output.

According to the visiting minister, Indian investors have so far committed $4.7 billion investment in Ethiopia and most of it related to the farm sector. He said the investment
was going to rise sharply in the coming years with interests arising in mining as well.

Indian firms have interests in cotton, palm oil, rubber, oilseeds and horticulture.

Derbew said an Indian company was in the process of getting 100,000 hectares of land for sugarcane production. "India has expertise in sugar. We are in talks with several Indian companies to help develop the sugar industry in our country."
ramana
Forum Moderator
Posts: 59773
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by ramana »

X-posted....
Shankas wrote:Philippines numbers surprised me.

The numbers for Ghana are wrong...I was there last week, they are very +ve on India and most want to visit India.

Tip to businessmen heading to Africa, be it French or English speaking they love Bollywood. Best gift - Hindi DVD's.

A 11th grade teen in Conakry, Guinea told me he is in love with Parvati and wanted me to introduce him to her. Parvati apparently is a hindi soap opera star.

Can someone please help me cross post this in Africa Thread - I couldn't find it. Thank you.
Airavat
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2326
Joined: 29 Jul 2003 11:31
Location: dishum-bishum
Contact:

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Airavat »

Image

The VP acknowledged that trade between India and Africa has grown over the years in volume to now stand at USD 45billion but said efforts should be made to correct the imbalance which is in favour of India. He thanked Bharati Airtel the mobile telephony giant , real estate investors reliance, energy company Essar, Tata Motor group and cement manufacturer Sanghi for having confidence in the Kenyan economy.

Noting that regional economic blocks were the best route to build strong markets the Vice President said Indian investors can take advantage of the EAC (East African Community) and COMESA markets as well as those of SADC and ECOWAS.

India-Kenya ties to create jobs, says VP
Klaus
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2168
Joined: 13 Dec 2009 12:28
Location: Cicero Avenue

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Klaus »

Not directly related to India but still, 68 bodies found in mass grave in Ivory Coast.

Authorities strongly suspect that it is related to infighting between rival factions in Abidjan.

BTW, not much is known about Nigeria being the regional heavyweight in sub-Saharan west Africa from an Indian viewpoint.
Airavat
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2326
Joined: 29 Jul 2003 11:31
Location: dishum-bishum
Contact:

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Airavat »

PM to visit Tanzania:

Speaking during a press conference here yesterday, the Indian vice minister in charge of Africa and Europe in the ministry of External Affairs, Mr Vivek Katju, said during the three-day visit, to start on May 26, Dr Singh will hold discussions with President Jakaya Kikwete on how to expand cooperation in various sectors.

In addition to supporting Tanzania in capacity building programmes, health, education and ICT, India is now the second largest source of foreign direct investments to Tanzania, according to Mr Katju. In 2009, Indian companies and businesses invested about $1.3 billion creating about 32,000 jobs. The India-Tanzania trade stood at $1.1 billion in 2010. Indian companies have invested in ICT, tourism, infrastructure and manufacturing. The company running Apollo Hospitals in India is expected to establish a hospital in Tanzania in the near future.

About 15 African countries will participate in the India-Africa summit to be co-chaired by the Indian Prime minister and Obiang Nguema, the President of Equatorial Guinea and the chairman of the Africa Union.
nithish
BRFite
Posts: 438
Joined: 02 Oct 2009 02:41

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by nithish »

India woos Africa with aid, technology, hoping to gain ‘soft power’ advantage
India is setting up a diamond processing facility in Botswana. In Uganda, it’s building a center to train businesses about global markets. In four of Africa’s poorest countries, Indians are helping cotton farmers improve their yields.

Across Africa, India is reaching out with a generous mix of aid, education and technology transfers it hopes will pay rich dividends in the global scramble for natural resources.

Over the weekend, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and scores of business leaders flew to Ethiopia for a meeting with African leaders aimed at prying open doors for greater business opportunities.

India’s interest in Africa is not surprising. The country has long-standing ties to the continent and a serious energy shortage for its rapidly growing economy. And it has a rival, China, that has become a major player in many African economies.
harbans
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4883
Joined: 29 Sep 2007 05:01
Location: Dehradun

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by harbans »

Across Africa, India is reaching out with a generous mix of aid, education and technology transfers it hopes will pay rich dividends in the global scramble for natural resources.
Obviously if some Western nation was doling out a generous mix of Aid, Education and Technology it would be just good ole Christian value systems of philanthropy.
RajeshA
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16006
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 19:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

Perhaps India and East Africa should form an East Gondwana "Union", to emphasize the geohistorical bonds between the landmasses of India and Africa!
ramana
Forum Moderator
Posts: 59773
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by ramana »

Hanuman resonates with lot of non-Indic people. I have seen this close up.
Jarita
BRF Oldie
Posts: 2649
Joined: 30 Oct 2009 22:27
Location: Andromeda

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Jarita »

^^^ The Howler Monkey god of Latin America is Hanuman and the Mayans, Incas recognize him
nithish
BRFite
Posts: 438
Joined: 02 Oct 2009 02:41

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by nithish »

India offers $5bn to Africa, keen to boost ties
India stepped up its push to deepen its economic ties with Africa and emerge from the shadow of rival China by offering $5 billion to help the continent rich with minerals and commodities.

At an address to an India-Africa summit in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh trumpeted his country's historical ties with Africa in an attempt to catch-up with Beijing's growing influence on the continent.

"There is a new economic growth story emerging from Africa. Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth pole of the world," Singh said.

"The India-Africa partnership is unique and owes its origins to history and our common struggle against colonialism, apartheid, poverty, disease, illiteracy and hunger."

Singh, who is on a six-day trip to Africa which began on Monday, is pledging development support in exchange for trade agreements to fuel growth in India's resource-intensive economy, and boost the presence of Asia's third-largest economy which lags China in the world's poorest continent.

"We will offer 5 billion US dollars for the next three years under lines of credit to help Africa achieve its development goals," he said in a speech in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Singh said India would offer an additional $700 million for new institutions and training programmes, a further $300 million for a new Ethiopia-Djibouti railway line and $2 million to fund the African Union's peacekeeping force in Somalia.
ramana
Forum Moderator
Posts: 59773
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by ramana »

Is there a map for the new railway line from Ethiopia to Djibouti?

Hindutan Times elaborates:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a key announcement at the second India-Africa summit on Tuesday, extending $300 million assistance to a new Ethio-Djibouti Railway line. It signals that New Delhi now wants to step up its presence in the big infrastructure projects in the continent, an area China

This railway line is much needed for Ethiopia. With Eritrea gaining independence, Ethiopia is completely dependent on Djibouti for an outlet to the sea. At the same time, African countries are seeking out Indian investments for regional integration through connectivity, Indian officials said.

Vivek Katju, secretary, west, in the MEA said many African leaders spoke about India taking a bigger role in infrastructure for regional connectivity at the retreat meeting of the leaders attending the summit.

Katju, while answering a question on India being compared with China in the race for Africa, said: “We are not in race with any country in Africa. The race is a figment of imagination. Our partnership with Africa is direct, and we do what they want us to do.”

However, signalling of India getting into major infrastructure projects in Africa, a forte of China, is very significant. :eek: As far as Africa is concerned, while the EU is known as the biggest assistance-giver, US is known for food assistance, and China in infrastructure and India in capacity building.

For example, many facilities of the African Union, parliament building in Malawi, dams to electricity generation in Kenya, China’s investment in infrastructure is all too visible.

“China has built infrastructure projects in Africa mainly in exchange of getting resources. But that has not been our approach”, said an Indian official.

More players coming into the infrastructure augurs well for Africa, which according to various estimates has unmet investment needs of $10 billion to $17 billion.

Prime Minister had hosted a retreat lunch for the African leaders attending the summit. It was a traditional Indian affair.
Whats on the menu!
ramana
Forum Moderator
Posts: 59773
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by ramana »

Good summary of the visit in TOI

Counter the Dragon

Unfortunate title.

Counter the Dragon

Indrani Bagchi

NEW DELHI: India took a diplomatic leap in Africa on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledging $5 billion for the continent's development over the next three years. Spreading out the Indian presence from agriculture to information technology, tele-medicine to a virtual university, India now rivals China for top honours in the new Great Game in Africa.

Hosting the second Africa-India Forum summit in Addis Ababa, the first to be held overseas, Singh said, "There is a new economic growth story emerging from Africa. Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth pole of the world... The India-Africa partnership is unique and owes its origins to history and our common struggle against colonialism, apartheid, poverty, disease, illiteracy and hunger... India will work with Africa to realize its vast potential."

"We will offer $5 billion dollars for the next three years under lines of credit to help Africa achieve its development goals," Singh said. To put the figure in perspective, India's healthcare budget is around $ 5.9 billion. This credit would be apart from $700 million pledged for new institutions in Africa.

And for all those who said only China builds infrastructure for Africa, India announced a railway line between Ethiopia and Djibouti at a cost of $300 million. The initial plan by the African Union was for a line running across the breadth of Africa, but the task of coordinating land acquisition through so many sovereign states was a challenge they weren't willing to take just yet.

China has the biggest presence in Africa, churning out airport terminals and football stadiums at a breathtaking pace, in return for access to resources and minerals. Its bilateral trade with Africa in 2010 was $126.9 billion, as compared to just over $40 billion India-Africa trade. Earlier this week, India declared a target of $70 billion by 2015.

India has had a long-standing relationship with African countries, particularly on the eastern seaboard, but it took a backseat when China strode into Africa with its deep pockets and insatiable demand for energy and resources. Since then, India has been playing catch-up. At the India-Africa summit in 2008, India signalled its seriousness about Africa. But this week, India announced that it will be playing in the big league here. India's interests in Africa are not very different from China's – with the added lure of 53 votes pushing for a reform of the UN Security Council.

But India prides itself on doing things differently from China. It sees itself as less extractive in its engagements and more inclined towards helping African countries improve their capacity. As a senior African diplomat observed, "China invests in our today, India in our tomorrow."

African nations are not unhappy at being the centre of attention and largesse by India and China. Although China is more efficient in the way it processes aid in Africa, India has been actively invited by African leaders themselves as they seek to balance the Chinese presence.

To that end, Singh announced a slew of new institutes in Africa on Tuesday – India-Africa Food Processing Cluster, Integrated Textiles Cluster, Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (India has donated a Param supercomputer to Tanzania), University for Life and Earth Sciences and an Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development. This is apart from a diamond institute and information technology and management institutes across the five regional groupings in the emerging continent.

The Indian presence is also mainly in the private sector, unlike the state-driven presence of China. This makes the Indian engagement far less threatening in Africa. Having said that, Indian companies are increasingly getting into mining for coal, copper and more industrial-use metals in different African countries. Indian farmers are engaging in commercial farming in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. In a recent agreement, Andhra Pradesh will send 500 farmers to become farming entrepreneurs in these countries.

PM Singh declared that India would invite all African airlines to Indian cities over the next three years. That's because no Indian airline now flies to Africa even as Chinese airlines are increasing their flights to the continent.

Singh will travel to Tanzania on Thursday for a bilateral summit – to a country where India has huge investments of over $1 billion, but also a country that, along with Mozambique, Mauritius and Seychelles, is forming part of India's security grid in the Indian Ocean.

Its sad that she adds her own bias and detracts from the official stated version of Indian vision for Africa.

Case of unnecessary jingoitis.

The reality is India seeks commercial, economic and security ties to Africa. And all those areas are being covered. China has one dimensional ties: give money take resources! Same old colonialism but now without occupation.
harbans
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4883
Joined: 29 Sep 2007 05:01
Location: Dehradun

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by harbans »

Is there a map for the new railway line from Ethiopia to Djibouti?

Ethopia is populated in a very high altitude terrain. Addis Abbaba is about 7000 feet above sea level. There are mountains about it which go up to 10k above sea level. So this is not an easy task at all. But glad India is investing in Africa and provide an alternate vision to Panda's for development.
nithish
BRFite
Posts: 438
Joined: 02 Oct 2009 02:41

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by nithish »

India, Africa vow to combat terror
India and Africa on Wednesday unequivocally condemned terrorism and piracy in all its forms and manifestation and called for active prosecution of authors of such crimes.

Both sides also supported each other’s claims for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.

The Addis Ababa Declaration adopted at the end of the second Africa-India Forum Summit in the Ethiopian capital also called on all countries to ensure that acts of cross-border terrorism do not occur and that their territories are not made a base for terrorists.

“We unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. An act of terrorism anywhere is a threat to the entire international community.

“We recognise the need to further strengthen international co-operation to combat global terrorism and for compliance of all member states with all international terrorism conventions and related protocols and United Nations Security Council’s resolution on counter-terrorism,” the declaration said.
RajeshA
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16006
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 19:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

Published on May 27, 2011
By Ranjit Devraj
India bets on training Africa: Asia Times Online
Of the various cooperation programs Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, plans for an India-Africa Virtual University (IAVU) take pride of place.

Addressing the plenary of the Second Africa-India Forum Summit in the Ethiopian capital, Manmohan offered a credit line of US$5 billion to African countries over the next three years, to help them achieve their development goals.

An additional $700 million was pledged by Singh for building new institutions and devising training program on the continent, an Indian government website said. IAVU follows the huge success of the Pan-African e-Network Project, and Singh said the initiative would help spur demand in Africa for higher studies in Indian institutions.

"We further propose that 10,000 new scholarships under this proposed university will be available for African students after its establishment," he said.

The Pan-African e-Network has already created satellite-linked infrastructure that has brought modern e-governance, distance education and tele-medicine services to scores of African states with support from Indian universities and top-notch hospitals.

Manmohan said that through the grant of scholarships, his government wanted to make education in India an "enriching experience" for students from Africa.

"We are substantially raising the number of scholarships and training slots for African students and experts, including under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Program," he said.

India's top Africa experts said there was method in Manmohan's choice of strategies to engage Africa.

"Pretty obviously India cannot focus on areas like infrastructure, where China has distinct advantages, but India is an acknowledged power in information technology (IT) on which it can safely leverage its Africa strategy," said H H S Viswanathan, a former career diplomat who is now a distinguished fellow at the independent Organizer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

Viswanathan, who has served as Indian envoy to various African countries, told Inter Press Service (IPS) that in the 1970s and 1980s a large number of Indian teachers and doctors went to African countries under government programs {some of my African friends had Indian teachers}, a fact not well-known today. "This is remembered gratefully by the present generation of African leaders," he said.

Right from the first India-Africa Summit, held in New Delhi in 2008, there was focus on the human resource development sector, Viswanathan said. "It is only logical to be consolidating this approach now."

Manmohan announced plans to establish an India-Africa University for Life and Earth Sciences and an India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development. An India-Africa Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasting will harness satellite technology for the agriculture and fisheries sectors as well as contribute towards disaster preparedness and management of natural resources.

There will soon be an India-Africa Food Processing Cluster and an India-Africa Integrated Textiles, both of which will help create regional and export markets, according to Singh's announcement.

India's focus on training was already apparent at a trade ministers' meet in Addis Ababa on May 21 that was designed to inform the summit three days later.

Earlier, Sanjay Kirloskar, chairman of the Africa Committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which is taking a lead role at the forum, said Indian companies were focusing on developing "job ready" manpower in Africa through skill development and capacity-building initiatives.

Kirloskar told IPS that training programs run by Indian companies were "aligned with local business operations" so that "Africans can learn on the job and then run the projects by themselves."

He said Indian companies have initiated educational and training programs that address the broader needs of society through scholarships as well as entrepreneurship development programs. "This is truly a South-South relationship," he said.

An example would be the Indian conglomerate Tata, which has established major businesses in African countries that are involved in such diverse sectors as steel-making, automobiles, IT and telecom, and has several well acclaimed capacity-building programs. Tata vice-president for new business initiatives Vikas Gadre told IPS his company found it practical and profitable to build large skilled manpower bases empowering African technical and managerial personnel to run Tata outfits.

"It is initiatives of this type that are winning applause both for Tata and for India from Africa's leaders," Gadre said.

Viswanathan said private sector participation is important considering that the vast majority of African states are now multi-party democracies that hold free and fair elections. "This helps India engage Africa politically and economically."

Trade between India and Africa climbed to $46 billion last year and is expected to reach $70 billion by 2015.

Indian private sector entrepreneurs have by now invested over $25 billion in sectors such as IT, farm equipment, automobiles and agriculture in several major African countries.
Whereas China has been plundering the minerals in Africa, India is trying to throw a tether around Africa and pull the whole of the African Continent towards India by inculcating the Indian way of thinking and doing things into the African DNA. In due time India would be able to compete with China dollar-for-dollar in resource extraction too, but as that is not possible today, India would rather spend her somewhat meager capital in making Africa, simply an extension of India - w.r.t. educational systems, industrial standards and practices, linguistically, culturally, political system-wise and administratively!

Good thinking!

India should proceed to encourage African countries, at least on the Eastern board, to adopt Indian administrative practices and work-flows, Indian political system, Indian system of services for the citizen, Indian educational system and standards, Indian industrial norms and standards, Indian financial and accounting practices, Indian terminology! It will be all these systems which would allow India and Africa to interact smoothly, and one day to integrate systems even further.

India and Subsaharan Africa or Eastern Africa share the left-hand driving, which would help India to sell more automobiles and trucks in Africa. Too bad Ethiopia changed directions. Perhaps they may change back.

Image

One thing India should insist on when building the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway Line is for them to adopt the Indian gauge of 1.676 meters. I believe the Ethiopians have the 1.000 meter gauge in mind! In fact India should always insist on using the Indian gauge, especially in projects we finance!
Murugan
BRF Oldie
Posts: 4191
Joined: 03 Oct 2002 11:31
Location: Smoking Piskobidis

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Murugan »

MMS used all the historice and prehistoric references to create a greater bond with Ethiopia
Manmohan Singh Floors Ethiopian Lawmakers

P R RAMESH ADDIS ABABA

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, not known to pack sentimentality in his foreign policy narrative, on Thursday had Ethiopian law makers lapping up his point that India was more emotional connected to Africa than any other partner.

"Many millennia ago, Africa and India were joined as one landmass. Today we are separated by the waters of the Indian Ocean but our connections are deep…I am conscious that when one visits Ethiopia one visits the cradle of humankind…it is a land of great natural beauty which was home to the most ancient kingdom in Africa," he said while addressing the joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament.

Singh, who spoke eloquently amid repeated rounds of applause, of the commonalities in culture to cuisine, said the exchanges between the two countries often overlooked similarities in traditions and cultures. "The Siddis of African descent, living in India, have created fusion of Indian and African styles of music that thrives today. The tradition in southern India of using fermented flour for making 'dosa' is similar to the 'Injara' in Ethiopia. The sight of women with heads covered and men wearing turbans is strikingly common in Ethiopian and Indian villages. Hospitality in humble village homes begins with simple offerings and guests are treated as incarnations of gods," the prime minister said. This was received with thunderous applause by the law makers.

Singh also said that India's engagement with Ethiopia had a strong political content. He recalled Indian leadership's response to the invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 and how it deeply affected Jawaharalal Nehru. He recalled that Nehru had told India citizens that they should stand with Abyssinia in its hour of sorrow and appealed to observe Abyssinia Day in 1936.

Singh, who described Ethiopia as the growth engine of Africa, said the country was fast becoming a magnet for foreign investment. "Ethiopia's economic performance and political stability are the fruit of the hard working people of the country. It is a tribute to the progressive leadership of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Prime Minister Zenawi's party controls 535 of the 537 seats in the Ethiopian Parliament.

The prime minister said the strong economic content in the engagement between the two countries will be mutually beneficial to both sides. "India and Ethiopia must work together to address the challenges of food security, energy security, health security, sustainable development and climate change. We have to learn to solve out problems by collaborating with each other," he said.
ET Mumbai Edition 27th May 2011
SwamyG
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16267
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 09:22

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by SwamyG »

MMS six-day trip to Africa - Ethiopia & Tanzania - Indo-Africa 2011 Summit: Highlights

1. Africa:
- 15 African countries participated.
- India announces $5billion loans over the next three years, in addition to $700million to establish training centers. In 2008, India announced $5.4billion loan.
- India’s trade with Africa has risen sharply from US$3 billion in 2001 to US$46 billion last year. New Delhi aims to raise this to US$70 billion by 2015. China's trade is estimated to be around $114 - $126 billion.
- Subsequently, IGNOU has announced the details on Indo-Africa Virtual University. 10,000 scholarships will be awarded. It will take about 6 months to an year to implement this University.
- The African Union mission in Somalia would also benefit from the largesse with a pledge of $2 million while African airlines will get increased access to Indian cities
- Two key documents (1) Addis Abba Declaration Key issues: The mutual recognition of the importance of multilateralism and south – south cooperation; a comprehensive reform of the UN system including the expansion of the UN Security Council, non discriminatory and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, countering of terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking and trafficking in humans, climate change, enhancement of south- south cooperation, sustainable economic growth, and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.(2) Africa- India Framework for Enhanced Cooperation Key issues: Widen the scope of the Africa India Framework of Cooperation and its Plan of Action adopted in 2010 and to give additional substance to the partnership. It sets out specific agreements to cooperate in the following areas: economic; political; science, technology, research and development; social development and capacity building; health, culture and sport; tourism; infrastructure, energy and environment and media and communications.

2. Tanzania (has 40,000 persons of Indian origin or Indian business persons)
- India announces new $190 million credit line to support water supply and education projects in Tanzania - $180m to improve water supply and $10m for HR and Educational development.
- Three agreements signed (1) To avoid double taxation on trade deals and (2) India to help develop Tanzania's small and medium industries and (3) to build hospitals.
- Trade volume between the two countries rose five-fold in the five years to 2010 to reach $1 billion, while India's investments in Tanzania reached $1.3 billion in 2010.
- Tanzania pledged continued support to India in its campaign to have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, saying the Asian country deserved it.
- A deal to setup a super-specialty hospital by Apollo to the tune of $150million.
3. Nigeria
- Namadi Sambo, Vice President of Nigeria said his country appreciates India's resolve to keep to its promises arising from the first partnership forum summit held in 2008. He commended the setting up of vocational training centres, the India model low income housing projects, the African Institute for Information Technology, India and Africa Education and Planning Institute, India and Africa Institute of Foreign Trade, India and Africa Diamond Institute as well as the Post-graduate scholarship for African citizens to selected India Higher Institutions.
4. Ethiopia
- Ethiopia offers a sizeable share of its 3 million-hectare farm land to Indian entrepreneurs.
- Karaturi, the Hyderabad-based agricultural investor, has already been given a lease of 300,000 ha. in the Gambela province to produce maize.
- MMS announced a $300 million line of credit to help revive the Ethiopia-Djibouti rail route.
- Investment by Indian companies in Ethiopia may more than double to $10 billion by 2015.
5. Botswana
- India will set up diamond processing facilities in Botswana to help the country move up the value chain. India imports diamonds from Botswana.
6. Kenya
- President Kibaki also held talks with India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh where they agreed that Kenya and India should establish a Joint Business Council as a forum to expand trade and investments between the two countries.
7. Uganda
- India will set up India-Africa Institute of Foreign Trade in Uganda.
8. Ghana
- India will set up India-Africa Institute of Information Technology in Ghana. Imports from India to Ghana stood at $314,491,460 at the end of 2009 against $307,534,508 the previous year. For the same period, exports fell from $204,367,039 to $69,506,586.

Dosa Diplomacy, Quotes, News, tidbits
1. MMS mentions India-Ethiopia cultural similiarities including the use of fermented flour for making dosa in south India and injera in Ethiopia. Also he talks about the sight of women with heads covered and men wearing turbans is strikingly common in Ethiopian and Indian villages.
2. Vivek Katju (secretary) articulated that - Indian strategy is to build a web of Indian or India-aided institutions across Africa so it becomes the “steel-grid” of the continent. In the reckoning of South Block, Africa should have close to 90 such institutions over the coming decade.
3. An Indian diplomat said "This trip has ensured that Africa will increasingly become the new hub of Indian enterprise abroad. Africa is what will grow, the rest of the world is saturated.
4. An Indian policy maker said "This is precisely what we have been trying to say — we are very different from the Chinese. They are hardware people, we are investing in Africa’s human resource and capacity building, a decade down the line, Africa will remember India more for what we have given them.
5. "The mission of IAVU is to create conditions that ensure special priority to furthering Indo-African relations by establishing an educational link," said IGNOU Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai.
6. Africa now consumes almost 15 per cent of India's total drug production. For Africans, drugs that once cost $10,000 a year are now available for under $400.
7. Katureebee Tayebwa, a counsellor at the Ugandan High Commission in New Delhi: "I am sure the role of the World Bank will also become irrelevant in the coming days, The World Bank gives us money but imposes so many conditions. We do not want conditions, we want money."
8. Perhaps India's biggest achievement is integrating itself into the fabric of African life. By some counts, 2 million Indians live on the continent, many of whose families have called it home for generations.
9. MMS said: "We would all like the Indian Ocean to remain a secure link between Asia and Africa through which international maritime trade can take place unhindered"
10. Indian investors have already committed $4.7 billion investment in the farm sector of Ethiopia. India is the largest foreign investor in Ethiopia. With India facing land and water constraints, investment in farm sector abroad is seen as a viable option for meeting the challenges of food security. Sources said land is leased out for approximately $50 per year for one hectare.
11. “I am often accused of being too pro-India,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told Dr.Singh when they began their talks at the former palace of Emperor Haile Selasie. “And my answer is, 'Guilty as charged!”

12. Indian diaspora in Africa is the second largest in the world. With 2.8 million Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda account for the largest share.
13. Indian conglomerates, both in the public as well in the private sector, have considerable presence in some large African countries with huge investments. These include Tata Group, Coal India, Reliance Industries, BHEL, Essar, Mahindra, Bharti Airtel, Kirloskar and Dr Reddy’s.
14. Ghana's former president John Agyekum Kufuor said "As a continent, Africa does not look to India with envy but with pride because of what it has been able to achieve with its can do spirit."

Links:
1. http://www.modernghana.com/news/331027/ ... frica.html
2. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... 590c94.991
3. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110528/j ... 040239.jsp
4. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Dosa-dipl ... 02416.aspx
5. http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/27/stories ... 031600.htm
6. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story ... 39322.html
7. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... -education
8. http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalco ... nto-africa
9. http://articles.economictimes.indiatime ... repreneurs
10. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opi ... 86095.html
11. http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/- ... /7s6bqf/-/
12. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corp ... /rok910/-/
13. http://allafrica.com/stories/201105250846.html
14. http://articles.economictimes.indiatime ... -education
15. http://www.business-standard.com/india/ ... 15/436085/
16. http://www.wantedinafrica.com/content/n ... ?id_n=7919
17. http://www.pravasitoday.com/text-of-add ... rliament[i] {full text of MMS address to Ethiopian Parliament}[/i] Nice speech.
18. http://www.indiaafricaconnect.in/view-m ... 56832&cid=
19. http://mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=100017663&pid=2142 {full text of Addis Ababa Declaration}
ramana
Forum Moderator
Posts: 59773
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by ramana »

Great report. Especially the last quote.
Rahul M
Forum Moderator
Posts: 17168
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 21:09
Location: Skies over BRFATA
Contact:

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Rahul M »

excellent job swamy saar.
RajeshA
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16006
Joined: 28 Dec 2007 19:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

Great powers seldom strut the world stage alone. They need others who see the world their way and follow them.

As long as Soviet Union was a superpower, it had the Warsaw Pact countries, as well as other countries in the world, the Comecon as well as many socialist and communist movements everywhere.

USA has NATO. The European Union itself works as a force-multiplier to the USA, all pledging themselves to a similar culture and values.

China on the basis of its anti-Americanism, anti-Indianism and new found riches is slowly putting up a bloc of Muslim countries, left-leaning countries in South America like Venezuela and Ecuador as well as countries in South Asia which are looking to balance India like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and for many of these alliances, it has used Pakistan as a cat's paw.

Though India has had historically speaking a wide realm of cultural influence, much of that has gone in the last thousand years. With India having difficulty trying to consolidate her influence in her immediate region, we have to reach out and build for ourselves a new comity of international support. So for that we are looking at Africa. What Europe is for America in terms of political support base, we are looking to Africa to build one such.

Of course, India would need to spread her net much further. We still have to keep on trying to consolidate our immediate neighborhood in the Indian Subcontinent; we still have to bring in South-East Asia is our area of influence, those countries which still follow Hinduism and Buddhism; those countries which are wary of China in East and Central Asia; then there is the Commonwealth.
VikramS
BRFite
Posts: 1885
Joined: 21 Apr 2002 11:31

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by VikramS »

RajeshA:

I think a big part of the problem is that a large majority of Indians are not even aware of the historical cultural influence of India. Though I am fairly well informed, had little idea of the impact Indian culture has had on S.E. Asia. All I knew was that Angor Wat was the largest Hindu temple, with no idea of where it came from and where it went.

As part of the revival of the Indian spirit, it is very important for the younger generation to become aware of the amount of influence pre-Islamic India had on different parts of Asia. It is also important for Indians to realize that Buddhism is also an Indic creation, and take pride in it.

I sincerely hope that India focuses on the ASEAN and East African countries to form a network which rings the Indian ocean.
SwamyG
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16267
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 09:22

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by SwamyG »

Agreed India is catching up to China when it comes to influencing Africa; however India has some advantage over China. Right now China as a country, nation or people has nothing else to offer but money - which is darn useful. India on the other hand offers past cultural ties, empathy as a co-traveler in this World, geographical proximity (it still matters), Bollywood, Education, Health ityadi services. These matter to people as much as a gleaming flyover or steel factory. I am not going to write India off the race yet.

I had created an old map of the Indian Sphere of Influence along the Indian Ocean Rim,marked some countries - I need to update it. I did not know some of the strengths of Tanzania and had left it out of my 'marked' countries. Neither was Ethiopia on it. I had Kenya though.
krisna
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5868
Joined: 22 Dec 2008 06:36

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by krisna »

Asia’s Race in Africa: What it holds for India?
The probability of a successful partnership especially for India appears possible as African countries have many things in common with India. It is here that India can play a vital role in ‘capacity building’ as pronounced by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the second India-Africa Forum Summit on May 24, 2011 in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. The first Summit was held in April 2008in New Delhi.
In Addis Ababa, the Indian Prime Minister announced that "India will continue to support efforts at infrastructure development, regional integration, capacity building and human resources development in Africa." To this effect India promised 5 billion US dollars for the next three years for Africa’s infrastructure development and 700 million US dollars to establish institutions and training programs.
It may be recalled that China initiated similar summits with Africa since 2006 in Beijing; the second China-Africa summit was held in 2009 in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. During the summit China pledged 10 billion dollars in aid to the African countries and canceled an accumulated 2.8 billion US dollars of debt for 35 African countries. The Chinese investment in Africa is estimated to be around 10 billion US dollars.
India has a historical relationship with Africa, especially during the post-colonial period. The very concept of non-cooperation and civil disobedience by Mahatma Gandhi was experimented in Africa itself during the late 19th century. However, the relationship swung from a period of great emotional and political solidarity in the 1950s and 1960s to selective engagement in the 1970s and 1980s. If we carefully analyze the Delhi Declaration issued at the close of April 2008 Summit, it is clear that India has diversified and fine-tuned its policies in political, security related, economic, science and technology, human resource development, social, cultural and other areas of mutual interest. This is a strategic partnership that would be based on the fundamental principles of equality and mutual respect. This is evident from the establishment of the 3 Africa Divisions since 2003 by the Ministry of External Affairs, India.
A resource rich Africa is already having 108 billion dollar trade with China and 45 billion dollar with India and over 50 billion with the ASEAN. Both India and China have heavily invested in Africa’s energy resources, infrastructure development, telecommunications and mining.
In 2007, India invested $13.6 billion abroad, of which 2.3 billion has gone into Africa.
Africa’s primary commodity exports to Asia account for 86% of its total exports to Asia. Its processed imports, including manufactured products and food products, account for 80% of its total imports from Asia. In other words Africa provides natural comparative advantage on raw materials and resource-based products.
As regards India’s quest for energy security, yes, energy security is an essential and very important component of India-Africa partnership, for the African light crude oil, and gas account for 12% and 8% of the global oil and gas reserves.
If China has adopted the model of ‘vertical integration’, India had gone for ‘horizontal integration’ with the African economies. It is true that by relying on government backing and economic strength, Chinese companies are often able to outbid competitors for procuring contracts from local governments. However, most of the Indian firms in Africa are either privately owned or under mixed private-public ownership. They are less vertically integrated, and engage in far more sales to private African enterprises.
The ‘horizontal integration’ model may not have won many projects for the Indian companies,but has certainly earned enormous goodwill for India in Africa
Politically too, Africa is equally relevant to India as sub-Saharan Africa holds over 50 seats in the UN Security Council. Both have reiterated that there is need for urgent and comprehensive reform of the United Nations, in particular, the expansion of the UN Security Council, in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership. India would also like to bolster diplomatic and security presence in Africa. The anti-piracy patrols in the key shipping routes of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean since 2008 are pointers in this direction. The routine India-Africa summits will definitely make this relationship healthier and stronger, equally important for India is to engage individual African countries at various levels and forge even closer ties with them.
krisna
BRF Oldie
Posts: 5868
Joined: 22 Dec 2008 06:36

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by krisna »

Empowering Africa
India’s extension of a $5 billion credit line to Africa to help it achieve its development goals should silence those who have been accusing it of engaging in a ‘neo-colonial grab’ for the continent’s resources.Unlike most countries that go to Africa to exploit its resources and sell it weapons, India has signalled that it is keen to partner Africa in achieving a better life for its people. Besides helping Africa with massive credit on easy terms, India will engage in institution building there.
Critics have accused India of aggressively pursuing Africa’s natural resources and dealing with authoritarian regimes that are involved in gross violation of human rights. While it is true that India is keen to access Africa’s oil, diamonds and uranium, India’s strategy to build influence there has been different from that used by the West or China.
nstead of selling arms as the west has done to prop up dictators, India has sought to reach out to people through capacity-building. Even as it accesses uncut diamonds from Africa, it is providing training in cutting and polishing to locals there. Those who are critical of India’s role in Africa would do well to explore the many people-centric initiatives that India is involved in there.
India has always enjoyed public goodwill in Africa. It has a long history of interaction with African countries. It supported their anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggles. And it has a large population of Indian origin living there. Few countries in the world enjoy the kind of goodwill that India has. Delhi must build on this as it deepens interaction with Africa.
It must learn from the mistakes of other countries. China for instance uses its own people to execute projects. This has resulted in tens of thousands of Chinese being moved to Africa. This has triggered anger among the local population. India must also bear in mind that while doing deals with authoritarian regimes there, it must not alienate the local population.
The western media is pitting India against China in Africa. India must avoid falling into that trap. China’s investment in Africa is far greater than that of India. Its strategy is vastly different. India must resist the temptation of following China’s path through Africa as its strengths and priorities there are different.
article is very angry about the critics. every sentence blames them, saying India was is and will be different.
Vasu
BRFite
Posts: 869
Joined: 16 Dec 2002 12:31

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by Vasu »

And I am glad that India has used this visit to bring out this very same difference. In fact, it should not be the question of 'difference' at all. India and China are vastly different in how they engage the rest of the world. It is true that Africa's resources are important to India, but India and Africa go a long way back economically, socially and culturally.

Apart from the initiatives mentioned in SwamyG's excellent post -
more African airlines will be invited to fly to India
Apollo Hospitals will build a USD 150 mn super-speciality hospital in Ethiopia
And India has already been working on the Pan-African E-Network project since 2006, which will link every African nation with fibre optic and satellite link.

My greatest hope - the unity and rise of the third world. I would be glad if India believed in it as a policy.
SwamyG
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16267
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 09:22

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by SwamyG »

Isn't it nice to see India's map without all the truncations? This image is from African Union's website. Obviously Africa would not show a truncated map. Similar maps should be used as the background when India meets European and American country leaders too. Keep sending the message - keep working.
Image
SwamyG
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16267
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 09:22

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by SwamyG »

India forges new bonding with Libya
During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s African safari, India forged a new bonding with war-torn Libya — much of it away from the limelight — while exploring new investment opportunities and strengthening ties with other African nations.

So overwhelmed was Libyan Foreign Minister Abdal al Latti al Obedi, that he reportedly told External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, “Our brothers (friendly Arab and African countries) didn’t help as much as you did for us!
But behind the scene, there were more efforts during the African Union (AU)-India Summit to stand beside Libya in its hour of crisis.

Top official sources told Business Standard that New Delhi had to intervene to even secure hotel bookings for the Libyan delegation in Addis Ababa, the seat of AU. “Initially many hotels were scared to host the Libyan leaders. We finally managed to get them rooms in Hilton Hotel,” said an official.
People tend to have long and short memories. And any lasting impression that we leave is good onlee.

Another nice foto
Image
JE Menon
Forum Moderator
Posts: 7127
Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by JE Menon »

A curious photo, the one above. The Indian hand looks very TFTA, must be the lingering after effects of the Aryan invasion. And the "African" hand, looks very Indian - must be all the Fair and Lovely we sell there...

Let's just hope that it was simply that the graphic designer hired on the cheap simply did not find any more suitable free stock photos to go with...
SwamyG
BRF Oldie
Posts: 16267
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 09:22

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by SwamyG »

^^^
I thought the same, why couldn't they find more rustic and natural looking hands :-) If they were flipped, one could say it was a South African hand onlee. BTW India is bigger than Africa onlee. Imagine if we had Akhand Bharat, it would eclipse Russia too.
vera_k
BRF Oldie
Posts: 3986
Joined: 20 Nov 2006 13:45

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by vera_k »

^^

It's a visual illusion. The African landmass of approximately 30 million sq.km. is 10 times larger than India's 3 million sq. km.

http://www.petersmap.com/
shyamd
BRF Oldie
Posts: 7101
Joined: 08 Aug 2006 18:43

Re: India-Africa News and Discussion

Post by shyamd »

Will Indian tiger roar in Africa?
May 10, 2011 - Neena Gopal |

When Dr Manmohan Singh lands in Addis Ababa for the second India Africa Forum Summit that begins in two weeks in the Ethiopian capital, three years after the first tentative meet in Delhi, the marked difference between India’s “soft power” and China’s headlong rush into becoming the continent’s go-to country for infrastructure is

certain to excite debate again. Delhi’s scramble for a piece of the African pie has shown none of the urgency exhibited by Beijing, which has steadily expanded its footprint by building roads, bridges, airports, parliament buildings, and mammoth stadia deep inside Africa.
The gleaming new main road that runs through Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, from N’djili international airport, past an endless sea of shanty towns, riddled with refuse is needless to say,Chinese. It will be the platform that President Joseph Kabila will use to jump start his re-election campaign later this year.
India’s concerns over Chinese inroads into countries it considers its strategic partners in the African Indian Ocean rim, such as Mozambique, the Seychelles as well as Madagascar and Mauritius, with whom India has defence agreements are factored into its emerging Africa policy, linked as these sea-lanes are to India’s energy security. A radar surveillance station in Madagascar to monitor shipping was inaugurated in July 2007, underscoring the importance of the Indian Ocean to New Delhi’s backyard. Similarly, India wants to lease a Mauritian island that can monitor the shipping lanes of the Mozambique Channel, an important route for goods being transported between Africa and India.
India’s naval presence in the waters off Somalia and Gulf of Aden and the rescue of dozens of vessels hijacked by Somali pirates is clearly a projection of its military force beyond its immediate borders. Safeguarding the $50 billion worth of Indian imports and $60 billion of exports that pass through the Gulf of Aden is paramount.
Therefore, while China’s overshadowing of India may be a matter of choice or simply because India does not have the resources to even diplomatically counter the Chinese, the strategic objectives by the two countries widely seen as the colonial powers of the 21st century, are achieved differently. As Jairam Ramesh, Union minister for environment and forests said at the 2008 Delhi summit: “Unlike China, which goes all out and exploits resources, our strategy is to add value.”
India has no intention of repeating the uncomfortable publicity that foreshadowed the construction of a presidential complex in the Ghanaian capital, Accra which cost $50 million to build, and that some reports indicate remains unoccupied. It would rather send teachers to impart education in English to former colonies where Portuguese, French and Afrikaans is still the lingua franca. It’s focus remains SMEs rather than big ticket projects.
Its main Africa connect in fact comes from the two million strong Indian diaspora, who are of Indian origin but African in spirit, speaking the local languages and wired into the political system and society. In providing employment to hundreds and thousands of Africans in their many businesses – sadly, though only one India media house exists in Johannesburg, when there is room for so much more- they provide the strongest gateway into a continent where Mahatma Gandhi, the tried and tested mantra trotted out by successive friendly African governments is fast fading as the image that binds the two. Today’s agent provocateur for change is spelt out by the economist prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh whose armoury is reinforced by the entrepreneurial spirit of the Ambanis, Mittals and Kiran Mazumdar Shaws.
IN conducts regular patrols and arms the Mozambique defence forces. The Mauritian island they are refering to is Agalega Islands.
Post Reply