At the Japan-India-Africa Business Forum, the Minister emphasised India's commitment to Africa through capacity-building, skill development, and technology transfer (a sharp contrast to China’s extractive model).
- India fosters mutual growth, while China controls various strategic mineral reserves, in Africa. Unlike China’s debt trap policy, India offers duty-free trade.
Evolving Nature of India-Africa Relations
- Expanding Economic Presence: India is Africa’s 4th largest trading partner with nearly $100 billion in bilateral trade.
- Driving Sustainable Development in Africa: India Provides a $12 billion concessional credit, funding 200+ infrastructure projects in railways, power, agriculture, etc.
- ITEC Program & Pan-African e-Network, e-VidyaBharti & e-ArogyaBharti are key initiatives.
- Giving Voice to Africa: India advocated for African Union’s permanent G20 membership during India’s presidency.
- Platforms like the India-Africa Forum Summit to enhance cooperation.
- India-Japan-Africa collaboration: Leveraging Japan’s investment, India’s technology, and Africa’s talent for shared growth.
- Indian and Japan launched Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) in 2017 to further democratic, sustainable, and inclusive development in Africa
India’s engagement with Africa is important as following Asia’s rise, the coming decades are expected to be of Africa’s (refer to the infographic).
