India, Africa favour new dimensions to multifaceted partnership in post-Covid world order
“We have common interests on international issues; UN reforms, counter terrorism, peace keeping, cyber security and energy security,” Rahul Chhabra, India’s High Commissioner to Kenya and Ambassador to Somalia, said as he highlighted multifarious collaboration between India and Africa in handling challenges thrown by the pandemic
by Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury
NEW DELHI: India and Africa plans to expand their multi-faceted partnership by not only jointly combating the Covid but also focussing on their strengths to address global challenges -- climate change, extremism, counter-terrorism, transnational crimes and maritime security.
Rahul Chhabra, India’s High Commissioner to Kenya and Ambassador to Somalia, at an international webinar organised by ‘India Writes Network and India and the World magazine to mark the 2020 Africa Day’ on May 25 said, “If it develops very well, we could be on track to be the defining partnership to address the challenges of the changing world, enhancing cooperation in tourism, medicine, governance, S&T, space, IT, education, and mining.”
“We have common interests on international issues; UN reforms, counter terrorism, peace keeping, cyber security and energy security,” Chhabra said as he highlighted multifarious collaboration between India and Africa in handling challenges thrown by the pandemic that includes supplying medicines, masks and continuous diplomatic contacts through virtual diplomacy.
Chhabra is taking over Secretary (Economic Relations) MEA and will be India’s pointsperson for Africa.
The webinar “Mapping Next Steps in India-Africa Partnership: Pandemic & Beyond,” brought together eminent diplomats, experts and thought leaders from India and Africa. This included: Dr Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director General, DIRCO, South Africa; Alem Tsehaye Woldemariam, Ambassador of Eritrea in India and Dean of African Group Heads of Mission in India; David Rasquinha, MD, EXIM Bank; Ambassador of Uganda to India Grace Akello; Morocco’s Ambassador to India Mohammed Maliki; Ambassador of Ethiopia to India Tizita Mulugeta; Sékou KASSÉ, Ambassador of Mali; Prof. Rajan Harshe, academic and author; and Pranav Kumar, Head, International Trade (CII).
Sooklal in his remarks said, “As we celebrate the 75 year of the UN, what is it that we are celebrating because you still have an Africa that is marginalised in the UN Security Council? The reform process is 20 years down the line - where are we? So, within the context of BRICS and IBSA, I think Africa and India must push the reform agenda of the multilateral institutions, especially the Security Council. We need to collaborate and see how we create a more inclusive global society that does not marginalise Africa and other parts of the world.”
“It is not just about Make in Africa or Make in India, it is about how we can jointly produce together for the mutual benefit of both India and Africa. There are tremendous opportunities and we have to look at the niche areas where we can add value to this relationship.”
Uganda’s High Commissioner to India Grace Akello argued for enhanced cooperation between India and Uganda and India and Africa in the areas of health, agriculture and manufacturing. Sher also underlined the need for joint research in traditional medicines such as Ayurveda.
“India has got a large array of agro-technologies which could be manufactured in the continent and some of them could be reproduced for various regions in Africa. Africa has about 25% of the planet’s land mass and if the potential of Africa’s agriculture was unleashed, it will have the sort of revolution that has occurred in other parts of the world. The planet would not worry about food at all because Africa would supply the food.”
EXIM Bank MD David Rasquinha underscored that the pandemic has brought some projects under India’s lines of credit, but the prospects of advancing India-aided development projects in medium term and long-term are bright. “For the moment, in many parts of Africa the projects supported by Lines of Credit have come to a temporary halt due to the pandemic. Exim Bank is even today clearing new Lines of Credit proposals, new projects.”
Ethiopia’s Ambassador Tizita Mulugeta recalled the teleconference meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed on May 6 and thanked the Indian government for providing medical equipment supplies to Ethiopia. In this regard Tizita requested the government of India to continue extending multifaceted assistance to Ethiopia and for the continent of Africa.
The ambassador also underscored Africa's unyielding commitment to strengthen relations with India and cited the success of the three previously held India-Africa Forum Summits. In this regard, she said that the two nations should keep up cooperating in the fight against the common enemy as the situation requires global action and solidarity. International cooperation is more than ever necessary to address this pandemic, she added.
Morocco’s Ambassador to India Mohammed Maliki hoped is that both sides learn from this lesson and build on it for our future areas of cooperation. “In other words, this pandemic broke in a timely moment before the India Africa Forum Summit-4 Summit takes place. My dear wish and suggestion is that areas like uplifting Health sector, providing good education, encourage joint scientific researches and insuring foo security and sufficiency, should constitute the top priority areas for the next summit of India-Africa Forum.”