India, Africa should jointly address food security concerns: Anand Sharma

New Delhi, Delhi, India, March 15, 2010 / IndiaPRLine / — The Indian private corporate sector has a key role in supporting the Government of India’s capacity building and skills development initiatives in Africa. Stating this in his inaugural address at the 6th CII-EXIM BANK Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership 2010 being held in New Delhi, Mr S M Krishna, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, said that the Joint Action Plan which has been drawn up to implement the decisions made at the first India Africa Forum Summit held in 2008 has laid great emphasis on India extending its technical expertise and financial support toward building human capital in the African countries.

Mr Krishna said the Plan is also directed to support the African governments in fulfilling their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Focusing attention on the broader partnership goals, the minister said the Government will revive the annual ‘Africa Day’ lecture and that India-Africa cultural exchanges are being planned to boost the age-old cultural links between the two regions.

Mr Krishna said the Government of India will steadfastedly fulfil the financial commitments made to further Africa’s development programmes.

Stating that India and Africa have a major say in the emerging global economic order, Mr Anand Sharma, Minister for Commerce & Industry, Government of India, said in his keynote address that the economic strengths of the two regions also came to the fore in the aftermath of the global economic meltdown that was triggered by the financial crisis in the western economies. South countries like India and the African nations hold the key to the global economy recovery, he said, while adding that the challenges for the economies will continue to be poverty alleviation and strengthening of food security. “We have to jointly address these challenges,” he said.

Mr Sharma also said that accelerated economic growth will aid India and the African countries to address the endemic issue of poverty. Issues linked to global climate change are also related to the issue of poverty, he pointed out.

Mr Sharma said that the Indian and African governments and industry should strive to establish the essential linkages to spur development. The Pan Africa eNetwork project is an example of this linkage, he said, while also making a mention of India’s key contributions in Africa in making available affordable medicines including anti-retro virals (ARVs).

He said that a vibrant India and a resurgent Africa should strive for the reforms of the international organisations and Brettonwoods institutions. “These institutions should reflect the real world of today,” he said.

On the trade and investments front, he said that while India-Africa engagements have increased manifold, the opportunities for further growth in these areas are “limitless”.

Mr John Dramani Mahama, Vice President, Republic of Ghana, said in his special address that the annual Conclave has greatly supported the continuous India-Africa dialogue for mutual cooperation.

Mr Mahama said that physical infrastructure development is an imperative for Africa’s growth and development and added that India could play a key role in this. He also said that Africa is on a relatively high growth path and is expected to register 4-5% GDP growth in the year 2010-11. “Africa’s time has come,” he said, while adding that Africa’s economic priorities are similar to that of India.

Mr Mahama said that capacity building is key to Africa’s growth and added that his country and rest of the continent would welcome India’s initiatives in this regard.

Underlining the importance of food security, he said that Africa has large tracts of arable land that could be cultivated with Indian support to feed not just Africa but rest of the world.

Mr Mahama said that Africa remains one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world and offers returns of up to 65%. He concluded by saying that African countries would benefit much more from this partnership by focusing upon regional economic integration within the continent.

Earlier, Mr Sanjay Kirloskar, Chairman, CII Africa Committee, said in his welcome address that India government and industry strives to establish business linkages in Africa, instead of merely focusing upon resources trade. “India’s engagement is functional and has a consultative approach, which is a sustainable way of doing business,” he said.

He said the Conclave was taking place at an opportune time, when 30 AU ministers are in the capital city.

Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, welcomed the delegates and said the large participation at the Conclave underlines the growth India-Africa economic engagements. Over 500 African delegates including 39 ministers are attending the Conclave.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between CII and BEDIA to promote mutual cooperation for the purposes of promoting investment opportunities in Botswana.