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African envoys call for strategic partnership with India |
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African envoys in India have called for working together to implement the outcome of the recent Africa-India Summit in New Delhi. Describing the Summit as “a remarkable achievement towards strengthening of Indo-Africa Strategic and Balanced Partnership in the 21st century, the African diplomats called for seriously working for implementing the decisions taken at the summit with a view to advancing a strategic partnership between them. They said, there was need for India and Africa to work together closely to advance their common objective of forging a strategic partnership between them.
The call was given by the envoys in India on May 23, marking Africa Day. Addressing a Press conference at the Egyptian Embassy, they sought to allay the impression that China and India were competing for a greater share in African development, saying the two countries “complement each other”. Egyptian Ambassador, Mohammed Higaxy said, “We in Africa do not see any competition between China and India; they are complementary to each other.”
Political observers say the optimism over further strengthening Indo-African relations expressed by the diplomats is significant since Africa is emerging as an important market for Indian goods and services and is a vital element in India’s quest for energy security as also a major source of minerals and other natural resources for the burgeoning economy. India has extended more than $1 billion worth of assistance including training, deputation of experts and implementation of projects in African countries.
Diplomats said there was growing awareness in Africa that Indian technology was specially relevant to their development requirements. With India emerging as a preferred source of projects, technical knowhow, managerial skills and development finance, the African nations are looking towards this country for boosting their technological development.
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