Heads of State of a significant number of countries are likely to participate in the four-day congregation beginning October 26, the biggest diplomatic event to be hosted by India in the last three decades, seen as its effort to consolidate the historical ties with the continent, endowed with large reservoirs of minerals and hydrocarbons.
On October 26, India will host top officials of the African nations <g data-gr-id="65">while</g> on October 27, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will host her African counterparts. The summit meeting will be held on October 29 in which heads of state and <g data-gr-id="64">government</g> will participate.
On October 30, bilateral meetings have been scheduled. A total of around 1,000 delegates including Heads of Government, ministers, officials and business leaders are expected to descend on Delhi for the event. The influential African Union will also participate in the event.
Boosting trade, enhancing security cooperation to combat threat of terrorism and exploring ways to deal with <g data-gr-id="61">scourge</g> of poverty, disease, illiteracy and hunger will be areas of discussions. To expand trade, the summit is likely to delve on India’s association with various African blocs including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) as these forums play a crucial role in trade and investments.
The leaders are also likely to deliberate on mitigating challenges of climate change and collectively promote the socio-economic advancement of the citizens of both sides.
India has been having a cordial relationship with African nations with most of them supporting New Delhi’s <g data-gr-id="45">endevour</g> to become a permanent member in an expanded UN Security Council.
The government believes a vibrant India and a resurgent Africa have a vision of a close partnership and that the summit will provide a platform to develop a new paradigm of cooperation. The bilateral trade between India and Africa was around $75 billion and it was expected to touch $90 billion this fiscal. Both sides feel the bilateral trade has the potential to grow significantly further.
Almost all African nations have huge tracts of fertile land and India feels there is huge scope for exploiting potential in the agricultural sector in the continent. A number of India companies are keen to invest in <g data-gr-id="48"><g data-gr-id="68">agri</g></g> sector.
Food security is a major concern for African nations and India feels it can provide the expertise to help Africa boost its agricultural production.
Some of the countries in Africa have huge reservoirs of oil and gas and India was keen on forging closer cooperation with them in the energy sector. Indian companies have already invested in <g data-gr-id="59">oil</g> sector in Mozambique and Nigeria.
Expanding cooperation in the energy sector is likely to be a major focus area of the summit which will mark a new beginning in further strengthening India’s historical ties with the continent. China has been gradually increasing its presence in the African continent with large investments in infrastructure and some other sectors.
“The summit will enable consultations at the highest political level between the heads of government of 54 nations across Africa and the Indian government to give a new thrust to our age-old partnership.
“It provides an opportunity to not only reflect on the <g data-gr-id="58">past,</g> but to define the road ahead in tune with the times we live in,” said a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs.
Earlier, the summit was to take place in December last year but was cancelled due to Ebola outbreak in that continent.
The summit will be the first such mega event in India with <g data-gr-id="56">participation</g> of <g data-gr-id="57">large number</g> of foreign leaders after the NAM meet in 1983.