SME Times News Bureau | 19 Mar, 2019
The 14th CII-EXIM Bank
Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships concluded in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The three-day conclave was organised
by the Ministry of Commerce inassociation with Confederation of Indian Industry
and EXIM Bank of India.
The conclave held
annually, since its inception in 2005, brings senior Ministers, policy makers,
officials, business leaders, bankers, technologists, start-up entrepreneurs and
other professionals from India and Africa on a common platform.
Addressing the valedictory session,
Commerce Secretary, AnupWadhawan said that trade ties with African countries
have strengthened over the years and the relationship has been mutually
beneficial.
He said this conclave marks the pre-eminence
of India-Africa partnership in the realm of South - South Cooperation at a time
when the global economy is faced with intractable challenges that stem from
rising protectionism and trade conflicts.
The India-Africa bilateral partnershipisfurther
augmented by India’s ascendency as the growing major economy, as
well as Africa’s new economic dynamism illustrated by some of the sub-Saharan
economies featuring among the top 10 fastest growing economies in the world.
The Commerce Secretary said that the conclave
coheres into the Indian government’s larger vision of long–term engagement with
Africa and Government of India’s unwavering commitment to expanding the canvas
of India – Africa economic partnership.
He said several Indian engineering companies have
been engaged in bridging the gaps in physical infrastructure in Africa by way
of development of roads, highways, ports, power generation and distribution and
watershed projects that connected different African countries.
India’s development cooperation ranges from power
projects and dams in Sudan and Rwanda to water treatment plants in Tanzania,
sugar factories in Ethiopia and IT Parks in Mozambique and Swaziland, building
of the Presidential Place in Ghana and National Assembly building in the
Gambia, besides other numerous projects.
AnupWadhawan informed that as part of India’s
outreach in Africa, Ministry of External Affairs, on 10th September 2018 signed
an agreement with the Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) to
establish a pan- Africa e-Arogya Bharti Network Project.
The event also marks
the deepening of India-Africa economic and business ties and paves the way for
a whole range of cross-border project partnerships.
Over 500 delegates from Africa
participated in the conclave.Vice President of
Republic of Ghana,Dr.MahamuduBawumia,Prime Minister of Republic of Guinea,
Dr.IbrahimaKassoryFofana andDeputy Prime Minister of Kingdom of
LesothoMonyaneMoleleki, also participated in the conclave.