Why the India-Africa Summit is a Big Opportunity for Both Parties

As leaders from India and Africa gear up for the Summit, we look at why the partnership is one of mutual benefit.

Prime Minister Modi meets delegates of African countries at the India-Africa Trade Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

• Trade between India and Africa is currently at $70 billion, considerably below potential
• Indian investments in Africa stand at only around $30 billion
• India and Africa have several opportunities to significantly upgrade engagement in diverse areas
• Most African nations support New Delhi’s endeavour to become a permanent member in an expanded UN Security Council

India will host the third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) in New Delhi from October 26 to October 30, 2015. Invitations have been extended to all 54 Heads of State/Government (HOS/G) in Africa as well as the President of the African Union.

It is expected that more than 50 HOS/G and ministerial representatives will participate in the meeting making it the largest high-level diplomatic gathering ever to take place in India. This number is expected to far exceed the biggest congregation of world leaders in India so far, the last being the CHOGM and NAM summit in New Delhi in 1983.

In the first two versions of IAFS – in 2008 in New Delhi and in 2011 in Addis Ababa – only 15 leaders from Africa were invited. The decision to expand the invitee list to include all African countries was taken by PM Modi soon after the government assumed power last year.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the 2008 IAFS. (File Photo: Reuters)

Among those who have confirmed their participation are South African President Jacob Zuma, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. More than 1,000 delegates including HOS/G, ministers, officials and business leaders are expected to arrive in the national capital for the event.

The third Summit was originally scheduled to take place last year but on account of the outbreak of ebola in Africa, it was considered prudent to postpone the same to October this year. It was felt that it might be embarrassing for visiting African leaders to be seen away from home in comfortable and luxurious settings while their countries were held hostage by the disease.

The first two days of the meeting, on October 26-27, will be devoted to senior official and ministerial deliberations. The Summit with the participation of Heads of State/Government will take place on October 29. Bilateral meetings between PM Modi and the visiting HOS/G are slated for October 30.

The objective of the summit is to significantly expand the growing relations between India and African countries, both at the bilateral as well as the regional level. Trade between India and Africa currently stands at $70 billion with Indian investments in Africa hovering around $30 billion. These figures are considerably below potential. India has contributed significantly to capacity development in Africa, having trained around 11,000 professionals from 2008 to 2011 and 25,000 more since the second IAFS till now. India provided $7.5 billion of concessional credit during the past two summits.

Minister of state (independent charge) for commerce and industry, Nirmala Sitharaman, addresses the India-Africa Trade Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

This has proved to be immensely beneficial in economic development of most countries in the African continent. The amount has been utilised across 137 projects in 41 countries. Both India and Africa realise that the strength of India’s partnership with African countries rests on the fact that India’s assistance is neither exploitative nor prescriptive but depends on needs of individual collaborating African States determined after bilateral deliberations.

Boosting trade and investment, promoting peace and security, counter-terrorism activities, ensuring maritime security, hydrography, peace-keeping initiatives, exploring ways to deal with the scourge of poverty, disease, illiteracy and hunger, and development of the Blue Economy are expected to be major areas of discussion. Ways to strengthen cooperation with various African blocs including ECOWAS, SACU and COMESA will be identified as these forums are active in promoting trade and investments. Leaders are likely to focus on mitigating challenges of climate change and collectively promoting socio-economic advancement of India and Africa.

India is currently the world’s fastest growing emerging economy. Africa is generously endowed with many advantages – rich energy resources, huge mineral deposits, vast tracts of vacant fertile agricultural land, and a demographic bulge with preponderance of youth in its population. Huge complementarities exist to strengthen the collaboration.

US President Barack Obama at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in 2014. (Photo: Reuters)

GDP of 36 African countries is expected to grow at 4 per cent or more per annum. Several opportunities exist for significantly upgrading our engagement in diverse areas like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, education, healthcare, mining, telecommunications, energy exploration etc. It makes eminent sense for both India and Africa to look seriously at each other to deepen their engagement.

India’s dynamic private sector can contribute significantly to strengthening bilateral ties. Several big Indian corporates like Tatas, Bharti Group, Essar Group, Reliance, Godrej etc are already well-positioned in Africa. Indian diaspora that has been living in Africa for more than a century and has developed deep connections can revitalise our engagement with the continent.

India is not the only country that has embarked on a Summit strategy to strengthen ties with Africa. The United States, EU, Japan and China have successfully pursued Summit diplomacy for the last several years to enhance their partnership with Africa.

India enjoys warm relations with all African nations, most of who support New Delhi’s endeavour to become a permanent member in an expanded UN Security Council. The Summit will provide a platform to a vibrant India and a resurgent Africa to develop a new paradigm of cooperation.

(Ashok Sajjanhar is a former Indian Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia.)