India gives $5-billion aid to Africa
India loosened its pursestring to woo Africa on Tuesday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announcing a multi-billion dollar in aid while inaugurating the second India-Africa Forum Summit in the capital of Ethiopia. :ranger:
Amid thunderous applause from the leaders and representatives of 15 African countries at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Singh announced a line of credit worth $5 billion "to help achieve the development goals of Africa". "There is a new economic growth story emerging from Africa. Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth pole of the world… India will work with Africa to realise its vast potential… It is in this spirit that I wish to outline some initiatives for the consideration of our African partners," Singh said on the eve of Africa Day.
The $5.4 billion aid offered at the first Summit in Delhi in 2008 focused on regional integration through infrastructure development. Singh said, "I believe we have reason to be satisfied with what we have achieved since 2008. But our people expect much more and we have to work hard to deliver on these expectations.
He also offered an additional $700 million to establish new institutions and training programmes in consultation with the African Union and its institutions. There was also support for the development of a new Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway line to the tune of $300 million.
Unlike China capacity building has been India's focus in Africa over decades. It may be recalled that half of the Cabinet in an erstwhile Ethiopian government had studied or were trained in India. The area of capacity building has been New Delhi's strength and Singh once again did not disappoint his African counterparts.
He announced creation of several new institutions at the Pan African level across various sectors - food, textile, weather forecasting, life and earth sciences and agriculture and rural development.
African students are a common sight in Indian cities be it Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata. To encourage them further government announced that an India-Africa virtual university will be set up to meet the demands among Africans for higher studies in Indian institutions.
Towards this end 10,000 new scholarships will be offered under the proposed university.
The PM also announced an increase by 900 training slots for the Africans under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC). Therefore a total of 2500 training positions under ITEC will be offered for the next three years to the Africans and total scholarships offered during the same period will amount to 22,000.
At the bilateral level, it was also proposed to establish institutes for English language training, information technology, entrepreneurship development and vocational training across African countries. And as part of new initiatives in the social and economic sectors India will also establish rural technology parks, food testing laboratories, food processing business incubation centres and centres on geo- informatics applications and rural development. :ranger:
In order to bring together business leaders from both sides and deepen trade ties, an India- Africa business council will be set up. :thumb:
A strong votary of peace building in Africa for decades that would lead to prosperity, India made yet another key announcement.
Singh said, "I am happy to announce that India will contribute $2 million for the African Union Mission in Somalia." Stability in the Horn of Africa, as Somalia is known, is also key in addressing the menace of piracy, of which India has been a victim.
Air connectivity has been a bottleneck between Indian cities and African nations.
This has not helped in increasing peopleto- people contacts. Acknowledging this, PM said, "One of the biggest gaps in our interaction is that of insufficient air connectivity… To begin with, India would be happy to increase the access of African airlines to Indian cities in a significant manner over the next three years."
India on its part sought Africa's support for its bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
"The current international economic and political situation is far from favourable, particularly for developing countries... The world faces new challenges in assuring food and energy security. Global institutions of governance are outmoded and under stress," Singh said.
African nations had overwhelmingly voted for India in the election for non permanent seat at the UN. The continent also hopes to get two slots in the expanded Security Council. :thumb:
India gives $5-billion aid to Africa : Rest of the World, News - India Today
22,000 new scholarships for African students in various academic courses
New Delhi, Mar 1 (ANI): Highlighting India's commitment to development in Africa, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said here on Thursday that 22,000 new scholarships for African students in various academic courses and training programmes, including special agriculture scholarships and C.V. Raman fellowships have been made available. :thumb:
Kaur, who was addressing the inaugural session of India-Africa Science and Technology Ministerial Conference, said proposals for the institutional strengthening of identified institutions in Africa and the transfer of need based technologies have also been initiated.
"There is a provision for 22,000 new scholarships for African students in various academic courses and training programmes including special agriculture scholarships and C.V. Raman fellowships," said Kaur.
"As per India's commitment to assist African countries in the field of Science and Technology, proposals for institutional strengthening of identified institutions in Africa and transfer of need based technologies have also been initiated," she added.
She informed that her ministry has duly secured approvals from the Union Cabinet to support these initiatives through its "Aid to Africa" budget.
Kaur also said that India has successfully implemented the Pan-African e-Network Project, including tele-education, tele-medicine and connectivity between leaders in 47 African countries and an agreement has also been signed for its implementation in the 48th country, South Sudan recently.
Under the framework of the Science and Technology Initiatives for Africa, Department of Science and Technology in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs organised the 'India-Africa Science and Technology Ministers Conference'.
This major ministerial level event has being organised in close coordination with the African Union Commission and is being attended by science and technology ministers from across the African continent along with senior official from various countries. he event is expected to provide a platform for the advocacy, outreach and commitment of India under the framework of the New Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative with Africa.
The ministerial conference also intends to help to develop linkages and also secure the interests and commitments of the African partners to this Indian initiative. (ANI)
22,000 new scholarships for African students in various academic courses: Preneet Kaur
