3rd India – Africa Forum Summit: African Rhinoceros

The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS – III) is being organized in New Delhi from 26–29 October, 2015. The previous two summits in this series were organized in New Delhi in 2008 and in Addis Ababa in 2011. The Third India-Africa Forum Summit will be the first such India–Africa summit in which the leaders of all 54 African countries with which India has diplomatic relations have been invited.

Several important aspects have contributed to the diplomatic partnership between India and Africa. For example, the ancient tradition of trade and cultural relations via the Indian Ocean; the presence of a large Indian diaspora in Africa, which is actively contributing to the development of many African countries and strengthening these ties. Cooperation, mutual development, and mutual respect are the shared values of our great leaders. A just international system and shared economic structure must be created; sensitivity towards the concerns of developing countries on international forums must be shown; rapid progress in trade and investment relations must lead to broader cooperation in various fields between India and African countries. All these efforts are strengthening the deep strategic partnership.

This development-oriented India–Africa cooperation is a multidimensional partnership. It is based on the spirit of friendship and unity, and the shared experiences of developing countries in reaching development goals. Its various aspects include: human resource development through scholarships and capacity building; technical assistance in fields like education, health, and global facilities; setting up development projects to enhance the capabilities of local populations; sharing India’s experiences in poverty alleviation, agricultural development, and industrial progress; extending humanitarian aid during natural calamities and other crises; promoting policies of peace and cooperation; enhancing cooperation in areas such as food security and energy; and assisting in negotiations on issues that are important to developing countries in international forums.

The total trade between India and Africa has increased more than 20 times over the past 15 years, and during the last 5 years, the level of trade has doubled, reaching 72 billion US dollars in the year 2014–15. The amount of investment made by Indian companies in Africa has also seen a significant increase, and currently, it is estimated to be around 30 to 35 billion US dollars.

Since the Second India–Africa Forum Summit, more than 24,000 scholarships have been provided to African countries. These include scholarships granted for over 300 training programs organized by 60 institutions. In addition, scholarships have also been provided for higher education in various universities.

Over the past decade, the Government of India has approved loans worth approximately 9 billion US dollars at concessional rates for around 140 projects in more than 40 African countries. Special attention has been given to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), focusing on their unique challenges and needs. So far, nearly 60 projects have been completed.

The third India-Africa Summit is being organized this year, which is also the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. This summit will be the first conference to be held after 50 years of African solidarity and African renaissance, and its organization is taking place immediately after the African Union adopted its historic Agenda 2063. This summit will also be the first conference to be held after the historic 50th anniversary of the Group of 77 last year. Its organization will take place just a few weeks after the start of Agenda 2030, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly for long-term development. A few months before this, the third international conference on financing for development was also organized in Addis Ababa. During 2015, the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be organized in Paris regarding climate change, in which the final form will be given to the agreement on climate change after 2020. Also, this year, a meeting of the World Trade Organization will be held in Nairobi. India and Africa have developed mutual understanding regarding their main priorities with the objective of allocating resources for inclusive economic development and long-term development for poverty eradication.

The third India-Africa Summit will provide a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of the long-standing friendship between India and Africa, as well as to determine the future direction of mutual diplomatic partnership.