Positive Signals From India Africa Forum Summit In New Delhi

India has historical relationship with Africa which has been highlighted by Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in Africa for several years and his launching movement in Africa against racism in the region. Several Indian families  have been living in Africa for many  decades, most of whom now know Africa better than India !

by N.S.Venkataraman

( November 2, 2015, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) India Africa forum summit at New  Delhi which took place in the  month of October,2015 has been remarkable and praiseworthy for several reasons.

While the first summit  in 2008  in New Delhi was attended by 14 African countries and second summit in 2011 was attended by 15 African countries, the third summit in October,2015at New Delhi was attended by  as many as 41 heads of states and officials from 54 African countries . Obviously, such large attendance in the recent conference clearly indicate the realisation amongst African countries that they need to stay together and cooperate with developing countries like India to occupy their rightful place in the global arena.

Africa is endowed with enormous natural and mineral resources and fossil fuel deposits. Most of the investments in African countries have now been made by multinational companies largely from western nations who make huge profit by their operations in Africa. While  there is  nothing  inappropriate in multinational and foreign companies operating in Africa, the ground reality is that Africa does not get it’s due share in income and benefits from such operations, while it’s natural deposits are being exploited by other countries and it’s natural resources getting depleted.

Certainly, citizens of African continent have as much native intelligence  and strength of character that people living in the so called developed countries have.  Due to several historical reasons, Africa has stayed behind  the developed countries  and developing countries in Asia,  as the citizens of Africa have not enjoyed the benefits of educational and skill acquisition opportunities in the way that several other countries in Asia, Europe and America have received.

What the people of Africa need today is the opportunities  for growth and  the conscience  of the rest of the world  should be stirred  to make the rest of the world support  Africa to  acquire  the requisite facilities  to foster growth. Of course, there are many regions of conflict in Africa, which have been mainly due to the lack of economic and social development  and  poverty conditions.  Most of such conflicts can be eliminated by increasing the standards  of education in Africa that would inevitably raise the expectations and aspirations of the people and give new hope about progress and prosperity.

The third India Africa summit in New Delhi that has just concluded can be the starting point for providing a vibrant kick start for a big leap forward in Africa. The very fact that 54 countries have been represented in this forum summit clearly indicate that there is new found determination in Africa to recover  the lost ground.

It is good to know that the Indian Prime Minister has offered several grants and support measures to Africa in realising it’s dream. As a large country with  big potential market base, India can certainly  open an outlet for trade between African countries and  India that would provide mutual benefits.

India has historical relationship with Africa which has been highlighted by Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in Africa for several years and his launching movement in Africa against racism in the region. Several Indian families  have been living in Africa for many  decades, most of whom now know Africa better than India !

While India has taken the  lead in organising this India Africa summit, comprehensive development of Africa to achieve it’s full potential can be made possible only by several other countries including China , Japan and middle east countries joining  together in such efforts.

Development and progress of Africa is in the interest of the entire world community and United Nations should take a lead in coordinating the  efforts of  developed and developing countries in chalking out a ten year plan for Africa to make the continent emerge on par with the entire world.

As stressed during the recent summit conference in Delhi, Africa should be represented in the Security Council of United Nations considering it’s size and population , that would  convincingly convey an  impression that the membership of the security council would not be decided based on mere money power and military power of the countries.