India, Africa are future workforce, can unite in all fields: Javadekar

Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, on Thursday, said that Africa and India can work together in all fields because we are the workforce of the future. He further added that this partnership is real and permanent, and it will expand further. Prime Minister Modi has a special affinity for Africa and that's the direction in which India is going ahead. Javadekar was speaking at the session on Africa – India cooperation - Skill development and Education at the Annual Meetings 2017 of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group taking place at Mahatama Mandir, Gandhi Nagar.

Elaborating upon the India Africa cooperation, Javadekar stated that more African students will be admitted into Indian education institutions. So far, India has given 24,000 scholarships to African students. He also announced that in the next five years it will be doubled to 50,000 students.

Javadekar also emphasised on creating active cooperation with African countries in the field of science and research, capacity building and knowledge. He expressed that exchange of youth and teachers was a big part of the Delhi declaration of the 2015 India-Africa Summit. He further stated that India has decided to attract more foreign students in IITs and IIMs and discussions are going on in this direction.

Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State for Finance, Government of India in his address spoke about some of the initiatives undertaken by Government of India that include the Skill India, Digital India and Start Up India, and mentioned that these programmes aim to train 400 million youth by 2022 to make them job ready. He added that through Digital India, the government aspires to provide Internet connectivity to the youth and Start Up India encourages youth to explore its entrepreneurship potential.

Gangwar stressing on the need for India-Africa cooperation and said that similarities between India and Africa are too many to ignore.

Africa's Socio economic diversity is similar to that of India. India and Africa both have a young population and both have great potential to reap benefits of this demographics dividend. Both India and Africa have to fullfil the aspirations of the young population in order to reap dividends.

Gangwar further added that youth un-employability is a challenge that both India and Africa are facing. These challenges will grow out of control if not addressed in time. The Government is trying to address basic problems such as improving upon basic education.