India’s cooperation with Africa based on Africa’s own prioritisation of its needs
India-Africa relations are being shaped by a world in which multilateralism is facing challenges aroundthe world, unilateralism and protectionist tendencies were rising
By IAR Desk
New Delhi: India-Africa relations are being shaped by a world in which multilateralism is facing challenges aroundthe world, unilateralism and protectionist tendencies were rising and the antagonism was now between multilateralism and unilateralism. In this struggle, the call for reform was lost in the din and therefore it was in the interes of India and Africa to tread the middle path. This was the crux of the remarks delivered by Mr. T.S. Tirumurti, Secretary (ER) of India’s Ministry of External Affairs at the national conference on ‘India-Africa Partnership in a Changing Global Order: Priorities, Prospects and Challenges’ organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs, 3-4 September.
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for reformed multilateralism at all multilateral forums like the BRICS, G-20 and G-7 meetings, Secretary said that that was the only way those who have never had a major say in the multilateral system, will now have a say. “Developing countries need a say in the global order of today and that can come only through reformed multilateralism.”
Africa, has, by adopting the Continental Free Trade Agreement in July this year, have shown the world what reformed multilateralism can mean, noted Mr. Tirumurti. “As internal barriers between the African nations break down, a world of opportunities will open up for all countries around the world. In this Age of Disruptions, this Continental Free Trade Agreement has the potential to be a game changer. As it is, among the top ten countries of the world which are growing fast, half of them are African countries. These indicators are only set to get better and better.”
The challenge for India and Africa, therefore, was to work together to bring about this reformed multilateralism, whether in the UN and the UNSC or in other international organisations, to change global order. This, pointed out the secretary, was not only in our mutual interest but in the interest of all developing countries. Reminding that reforming multi-lateral systems was what the BRICS Foreign Ministers recently agreed on in Rio, he also focused on South-South cooperation. “South-South cooperation is gathering greater currency and value. It is occupying much greater space in the world of development partnership and in the changing global order. The IBSA countries took the initiative for bringing out last year a timely declaration on South-South Cooperation, and for reiterating certain essential principles of SSC. And nowhere is this more relevant than in the African context. Developing countries are already looking to partner African countries in their developmental path. In Africa’s pursuance of “Africa-owned” and “Africa-led” development, it is India’s endeavour to base our partnership on the principles of equality, mutual respect, solidarity and mutual benefit. Our model of cooperation with Africa is demand driven, consultative, and participative, involves local resources, builds capacity and is based on Africa’s own prioritisation of its needs.” The challenge was to liberate the potential of Africa without seeking to constrain it. That is the touchstone for development. The challenge is also to ensure that while SSC occupies greater space in development, including in Africa, the developed countries do not take this opportunity to withdraw from their North-South Commitments.”
Noting the winds of change sweeping Africa, particularly in the political arena, with greater respect and commitment to democracy, with governments becoming more responsive to the demands of the citizens, the ministry’s representative said that these changes were also shaping India’s developmental partnership with the continent. “Many of India’s assistance now goes towards empowering the people of Africa whether it is our capacity building and training assistance or the sectors to which our developmental assistance is channeled. For example, the impact of Indian Lines of Credit for water related projects in Tanzania, including drinking water projects which have brought about a change in the lives of the common man, has led to requests from many other countries for similar projects like Malawi, Guinea etc. This equally true of requests to India to conduct sector specific training courses for country specific requirements under our ITEC programme, which spans more than 160 countries. We just had a group of 25 Permanent Secretaries from The Gambia benefiting from learning about the Indian model of good governance and administration. So democracy brings about a different set of priorities and, accordingly, the type of request for development partnership also changes.”
Noting the continent’s desire Africa to move up the value chain and leapfrog into Industry 4.0., the Secretary (ER) said “Africa is at that stage where they are embracing development at different levels” which is why developmental partnership needed to be technology driven. As India believed in technological cooperation, this is why he stated that most of the members of the International Solar Alliance are African nations. India’s first pilot e-ITEC course for two countries in Africa a few months back was on Big Data Analytics. He promised that India would continue to “work with Africa to address the challenge of the knowledge, technology and digital divides, so that the 4th industrial revolution is an inclusive one.”
Mr. Tirumurti also highlighted security and defence challenges facing the African continent. “Africa is more acutely aware now than ever before the need to combat violence, radicalization and terrorism if development has to become sustainable. India has tried to reach out to address this need over the years. We are proud of the work of Indian peacekeepers in over a dozen UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, since our first mission in Congo in 1960. Today, over 5,000 Indians serve in five peacekeeping operations in Africa. Indian women established a landmark with the first all-female Police Unit of the United Nations in Liberia. Our defence and security cooperation is growing with nations in Africa, as we work together to counter terrorism and piracy, and keep our seas secure. We have recently had many requests from African countries for Indian Military Training Teams to be deputed to their National Defence Academies. We will strive to address these requests and strengthen our mutual resolve to fight terrorism and radicalization. These are challenges we need to face together resolutely.”
Highlighting that India has been acutely responsive to the changing priorities and requirements of African countries, and based on the guiding principles set out by Prime Minister Modi for India’s engagement with Africa last year, he said African Union and member states delegation have been invited the next week for the first ever review meeting of the commitments under India Africa Forum Summit 3, which had been held in New Delhi in 2015.
Progress in those commitments have been impressive: of 50,000 slots for capacity building over 5 years, India has done more than 40,000 already, and out of a grant commitment of USD 600 million over 5 years, the target has been exceeded in 3 and a half years itself, and out of the Lines of Credit target of USD 10 billion, more than USD 6 billion has already been pledged. The ITEC programme is also expanding into new and innovative areas like e-ITEC to reach larger numbers. Some of India’s leading institutions like Indian Institute of Technology and other centres of excellence, both public and private, participate in this effort now. The new tele education and tele medicine project ‘eVidya Bharti e Arogya Bharti’ (eVBAB) will bring India and Africa even closer. India is also engaging with third countries like Japan for Trilateral Cooperation for taking up projects in Africa.
Recalling how Mahatma Gandhi inspired a generation of great African freedom fighters, Mr. Tirumurti said that the Indian knowledge economy is inspiring generations of African youth and students, Indian entrepreneurs are inspiring African business community, while India’s stability and democratic polity is inspiring many in Africa to emulate the Indian model. In this the People of Indian origin in Africa have also played a key role in socio-economic development of their adopted countries and they continue to be a living bridge between India and Africa.
Over the few past years India has reached out to Africa notching up its engagement with the continent. There have been several high profile visits with the President Kovind making the first ever visit by an Indian president to West African countries. India-Africa relations had received particular thrust under the last NDA government under Prime Minister Modi. In his last term the Prime Minister had visited a number of African countries; his tenure saw the India-Africa summit, where 40 heads of state or government from Africa participated while all 54 African countries attended; and the President of Republic of South Africa was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January this year.
India-Africa trade has multiplied and diversified in the last 15 years. India is ranked as the third largest export destination and the fifth largest investor in Africa, with sizeable investments in oil and gas, mining, banking, pharma, textile and other sectors.
Indian investments in Africa are close to US$ 30 billion, and have contributed immensely to job creation in Africa.
In June this year India extended US$ 15 million grant assistance to Niger in support of organizing of the African Union (AU) summit scheduled from 7-8 July, 2019 in Niamey, the capital of Niger,
Currently the Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan is on a tour of three West African countries.
