India-Africa Conclave in October 2006

Come October, and New Delhi will host the 'India-Africa Project Partnership 2006' — a conclave that will further expand economic opportunities for the two partners. The conclave will take place between October 9 and 11, 2006.

Speaking at a seminar titled ‘India Africa Project Partnership: Showcasing Opportunities’, R Srinivasan, Chief Operating Officer, TCE Consulting Engineers, said that the aim of the conclave would be to cement business ties between India and Africa further.

Thursday’s seminar, held in New Delhi, is part of the ongoing interactions between African countries and India to develop long-term relationships. Organised by the CII, it helps developing priorities for both the African and the Indian companies. Around 500 Indian delegates participated in 6 such seminars, held in six cities of India over the last ten days. The seminars were addressed by a number of African delegates and African Heads of Missions.

Shashi U Tripathi, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, on Thursday talked about the success of the previous conclaves. The two conclaves in the year 2005 resulted in a total investment of 230 million USD. An investment of around a billion USD was made in the Ivory Coast. Several projects have also come up involving giants like the Tata Group, Sonalika (Kirloskar) and Mohan Energy Corporation.

Tripathi said that people in Africa are taking charge of their own destiny and India is privileged to help Africa in the process. India has undertaken several projects to create institutions, infrastructure and also create jobs, wherever possible, in Africa.

The African delegates have so far shown interest in the agricultural sector, ICT, textiles, automobile industry, pharmaceuticals, education & skill development and institutional building, particularly the financial sector.

During the seminar, Srinivasan said that India is a “reservoir of high engineering, tooling and machining”, and has also made a mark in the services sector. Srinivasan felt there is potential for growth in sectors like technology, training, education and natural resources. He felt that Indian IT companies are well-positioned to train African countries. “We have in store tele-medicine and tele-education for Africa.”

H.E. Mr Abdal Mahmood Abdal Haleem Mohammad, Dean of the Diplomatic Corp of African Countries and Ambassador to Sudan, said that the common colonial legacy has strengthened bonds between India and the African countries. He said that Africa looks forward to Indian investment in agro-business and new technologies, which he hopes will generate employment in the region. Mr Mohammad said he hoped that both India and Africa would come up with innovative ideas to further enhance the cooperation.

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