India plans to strengthen partnership with Africa in Solar Power, Defence Trade, Military Exchanges, Physical & Digital Infra, Healthcare & Pharma: Piyush Goyal
India and Africa can work together
to bring cost effective solutions in several areas like drinking water
logistics , healthcare education , Fintech and solar powers among others too : Piyush Goyal
India’s ties with Africa are based on trust, friendship and deep understanding
of each other’s requirements; our government accords highest priority to our
Africa engagements: Goyal
Together India and Africa can solve several global issues: Piyush Goyal
India and Africa teamed up as the voice of the developing world at WTO
ministerial meet
India and Africa together secured their interests and the relevance of the
multilateral trading system
Union Minister Piyush Goyal addresses
the inaugural session of CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth
Partnership
India plans to
strengthen its partnership with Africa in four areas to fulfil aspirations of
both the countries. First area is solar power, this will help bring clean
energy, energy security and will create jobs in Africa. Second is defence trade
and military exchanges in Indian Ocean, manufacturing of armoured vehicles and
UAVs. Third is physical & digital infra, helping in IT/Consultancy &
Project Exports and the fourth one is healthcare & pharma.
Speaking at the inaugural session of CII-EXIM Bank Conclave
on India-Africa Growth Partnership, the Union Minister of Commerce &
Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textile Piyush
Goyal said that deep friendship between India and Africa countries, developing
over the years is based on shared history, trade ties & love for cinema. He
said that Mahatma Gandhi first practised the principles of Satya & Ahimsa
in Africa. Similarity in our freedom struggles has solidified the foundation of
our friendship.
Goyal said that our government accords highest priority
to our Africa engagements. He said we would reassure that India’s ties with
Africa are based on trust, friendship and deep understanding of each other’s
requirements.
He further added that India-Africa partnership will play
an important role in our journey going forward as India and Africa are
collectively constitutes 1/3 of the world’s population and both of us are very
much aliened in several areas.
Goyal said that the engagement between CII and EXIM bank
put together along with all African nations will play a very critical role in
our shared future and prosperity of people of Africa and India.
He said, “we are working to lead the developing world out
of food insecurity; efforts are being made to take quality life and prosperity
to the people of India and Africa. Our deep friendship can be best demonstrated
by our continuous engagement through Vaccine-Maitri during Covid period.”
He said that this conference was been held just before
India completes 75th year
of independence, when we are celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. We
are setting new goals and setting a new vision for India’s development. He
further added that as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls it Azadi ka Amrit
Kaal, the golden era. He said that the mission before the country is to
make India a prosperous nation, a nation that cares for both Indian citizen and
every citizen of the world. A nation that gives leadership to economic
development, growth and prosperity of the world, as we complete 100 years of
independence in 2047 the next very important 25 years.
He further talked about the support India receives from
South Africa, as proposed TRIPS waiver (sponsored by SA & India) and
supported by all African countries, shows the prowess of our partnership and
our efforts to work as a grouping of developing nations. He said this was
evident at WTO Ministerial also, where India and Africa became the voice of
developing & less developed countries. He said we achieved the relevance of
the multilateral trading systems and protected our future growth imperatives.
Together India and Africa can solve several global issues.
He said that there are four pillars of India-Africa
engagement i.e. people, Business, Trade & Government. There is an Indian
diaspora presence in nearly 46 African Countries. India is among top 5
investors in Africa with investment at $71 bn over the last 25 years. He said,
our companies are working to support local manufacturing in Africa and to hope
to see deeper engagements between business of India and Africa.
Further, he added that in terms of trade, Africa is
India’s 4th largest
trading partner of India. He said our merchandise trade grew by 34% from $67 bn
in 2019-20 to $89 bn in 2021-22. India’s export $40 bn and Imports $ 49 bn from
various African countries.
Goyal said that this is the time, India and Africa can
lead global growth. We look at Africa as partners in progress. He said India
gave 27 LDC African nations benefit of Duty Free Tariff Preference.
Goyal informed that in terms of our Government to
Government engagement, we have e-Vidya Bharat & e-Arogya Bharati supporting
education and healthcare in Africa. He said in the post-Covid world, Indian
knowledge in healthcare and education will help deepen engagement with Africa.
Further in his address, he said we can work together to
bring cost effective solutions in several areas like drinking water logistics ,
healthcare education , Fintech and solar powers among others too.
Goyal said India has created the world's third largest startup
ecosystem. India can help co-create similar system in various African nations
and DPIIT can share experience
& expertise of Startup India for Startup Africa.