The India Secretary (West) in the
external affairs ministry, Navtej Sarna, has said that India is aligning its
relations with Africa alongside Agenda 2063 by the African Union, NaijaAgroNet reports.
He said India and Africa have been
"brothers in arms in the fight against apartheid and colonialism," adding that there is a positive move towards
democracy among African countries and following the adoption of the Agenda 2063
by the African Union, India is aligning its relations with Africa alongside
this agenda, a global strategy to optimize use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of all African and an Integrated,
prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a
dynamic force in the global arena.
Sarna, said
that India's approach to ties with African countries was that of partnership
adding that education and
skill development is another area crucial to India-Africa relations.
Agriculture, blue economy and
security are key aspects of India's ties with African countries, he said recently
while addressing the media ahead of the third India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) to
be held late October.
He said India has also given a line
of credit of $7.4 billion, about N1.47 trillion to Africa which is being
utilised in 137 projects across 41 countries, NaijaAgroNet learnt.
"India has played a key role in
terms of security in Africa. We have had 11 peace keeping forces. Even now, we
have four peace keeping forces deployed there and 4,500 security personnel on
the ground there." Sarna also said that Indian Navy has also played a key
role in the east coast of Africa in terms of curbing piracy.
Blue economy was another area of
cooperation India was building on with Africa, he noted. "Blue economy or
ocean economy is very important for Africa. We are in talks with countries like
Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles and Mauritius," he said. He
identified agriculture as another area of partnership.
"Despite having vast arable
land, Africa still needs to get food from outside," said Sarna, adding
that getting people from outside to farm agricultural land would be another
point of discussion among the leaders.
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