Modi floated the solar alliance idea early this year and found several backers such as Australia, New Zealand, China, African nations and Brazil.
Advertisement
This will, maybe, be the primary time that each one the 54 African countries are coming collectively outdoors the continent for such a gathering. Asked why Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been invited to the summit as he has been declared a “war criminal” by global Criminal Court (ICC), Swarup said India was not party to the Rome Statute that created the ICC and that he has been invited just like any other African leader.
The TPF provides the venue for evaluating progress that has been made on trade and investment issues between the United States and India at the ministerial level, an official statement said. India-Africa trade already exceeds $70 billion annually.
Modi, who is ready to hold around 40 bilateral meetings with visiting African leaders this week, stressed that he would once again pitch for UN Security Council reforms and seek Africa’s support for India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat.
Africa and India combined have 2.3 billion people, which is getting on for a third of the world’s population.
“Every institution and country will be present when Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) takes the floor on October 29”, said Akbaruddin. Africa in fact represents the youngest region in the world and India too is the youngest country. India also is a major investor in Africa today and this is especially so in the oil sector and this is giving a new dynamism to the African economy. Human resources are the most-important element in any society.
The emphasis of this third summit is on the “blue economy” as also a reminder that many African countries are part of the Western Indian Ocean littoral.
Advertisement
India has committed US$7.4 billion in concessional lines of credit, which are contributing towards development of infrastructure, light manufacturing, public services and clean energy in Africa. “We can’t match the Chinese in terms of resources – but any engagement we do with the Africans at least gives them a choice”, C. Raja Mohan, a representative from Observer Research Foundation, told Reuters.
