He added that the world was undergoing political, economic, security and technological transition on a scale and speed rarely seen in recent history and yet the global institutions reflected the circumstances of the century that has been left behind. “That is why India advocates reforms in global institutions”, Modi said.
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Stating that India also suffered its own challenges with access to power especially in the rural areas, he said that Africa and India have the most promise in using the free energy of the sun to transform the lives of their people.
Referring to the developed world, he said that the excess of a few can not become the burden of many as he hoped for a comprehensive and concrete outcome based on established principles in the UN Convention on Climate Change.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the India-Africa Forum Summit on Thursday, took the opportunity to be the first to wish Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on her birthday.
South African President Jacob Zuma, who is part of G-4 grouping, also strongly backed India’s candidature for the UNSC seat.
“India will offer concessional credit of $10 billion over the next five years”.
India’s presence in Africa is dwarfed by China, whose trade with the continent topped $200bn past year – more than the gross domestic product of the 30 smallest African economies combined.
Sushma Swaraj said the modern partnership between India and Africa rested “on the pillars of economic growth, development and empowerment and is a consolidation of our engagement at various levels – bilateral, regional and pan-African”.
He also referred to India’s aspirations to be member of the Security Council.
Mr Modi said in less than a decade India’s trade with Africa has topped US$70 billion (Dh257bn) and that the continent was a major destination for Indian business investment. India and African countries agreed to adopt the 2015 India-Africa Framework for Strategic Cooperation and agreed on the establishment of a regular formal monitoring mechanism to review its implementation and the plan of action within the agreed timeframe.
India is interested in Africa’s natural resource while African countries want to benefit from Indian expertise in high-tech sectors such as IT and mobile phones.
The visiting African leaders also agreed to step up cooperation in counter-terrorism and maritime security against the threats of organisations like Boko Haram, operating in several African countries.
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“Two third of India and Africa is under the age of 35. These do not come from those who have robbed us of our humanity”, said Mugabe, who addressed the summit as chairman of the African Union.
