India-Africa Relations

[A.V.]

Horn of Africa: why India should care more

Our strategic community and official agencies should pay more attention to the conditions and power dynamics in the Horn of Africa because what happens in the region has a direct bearing on our security.

Africa has been of growing interest to India for political and economic reasons but does it have security implications for us? The answer is 'yes,' especially as we focus on a particular sub-region, the Horn of Africa. A recent, distinguished visitor to India from the area — Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia — highlighted the wider implications of terrorism and piracy in the east African region. He even suggested that there should be "a naval blockade and no fly zone over Somalia."

The immediate relevance of the threat posed by piracy has been underlined by the latest incident in which a Bangladeshi-flagged merchant ship, MV Jahan Moni, was hijacked by Somali pirates at a location barely 90 nautical miles from the Lakshadweep Islands.

The Horn of Africa comprises four countries — Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia. As a quintessential microcosm of Africa, the area has seen it all: imperialism, neo-colonialism, Cold War, ethnic strife, intra-African conflict, poverty, disease, famine and much else. Without its recovery and progress, Africa's resurgence would never be complete. With the headquarters of African Union located in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, the continent's apex organisation gets a direct and unhindered view of what happens in its immediate vicinity.

The sub-region covers a wide spectrum from Ethiopia — an ancient civilisation and a nation that retained its independence (except for a short period) — to Somalia, the most failed state on the planet today. Eritrea and Djibouti, smaller neighbours located on the seashore, have had their own share of strife and strained relations with Ethiopia and Somalia respectively. Eritrea emerged as an independent state after a 30-year-long confrontation with Ethiopia, a development that turned the latter into a landlocked country. Djibouti, the erstwhile French Somaliland, has been a beacon of relative stability and prosperity, which has contributed to mediation and peace-making efforts in and outside the Horn of Africa.

Africa's Afghanistan

Somalia today is a mere geographical expression, not a united country. In the past decade, it has gone through 14 governments. In its northern part, three quasi-sovereign governments exist — Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug. The southern part is controlled partly by the Transitional Federal Government, but its writ runs in parts of Mogadishu only. Outside, Islamic groups named the Union of Islamic Courts call the shots. The on-going armed conflict within the capital city reminds me of the years I spent in the civil war-torn Beirut. The South has become a veritable hub of Islamic fundamentalists and terrorist groups such as Al-Shabab having links with the al-Qaeda. The North has been the breeding ground of pirates who pose a serious threat to international shipping. Somalia may aptly be depicted as 'Africa's Afghanistan.'

Somali pirates, operating in the waters off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden through which passes a massive quantum of the world's goods and energy supplies, pose a grave danger. The trend now is for them to take their operations far out on the high seas. The number of attacks in 2008 was 111 and 217 in 2009. The year ending now has seen the problem grow. In a recent assessment, the Institute of Security Studies in Pretoria stressed that piracy has been growing "in frequency, range, aggression and severity at an alarming rate." Pirates keep trying to harm international shipping, content to extract ransom, but their continuing operations and the potential of building links with international terrorist organisations cause widespread worry. The probability of a major, spectacular attack such as the sinking of an oil tanker cannot be ruled out.

Navy's magnificent work

In this context, the magnificent work the Indian Navy has been doing in the area since October 2008 deserves wider appreciation. Its warships patrol the Gulf of Aden and quietly provide escort and security assistance to not only Indian but also foreign merchant vessels. About 1,350 ships belonging to different countries have availed themselves of this facility so far. During the first fortnight of September 2010 alone, INS Delhi scored success on four separate occasions to foil attacks by pirates. In all, 22 piracy attempts have been averted by the Navy. It has discharged, as Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma put it, "its responsibilities with distinction."

It is worth noting that a considerable degree of consultation, coordination and cooperation in capacity building in anti-piracy operations has been taking place. However, there is a problem about what to do with the pirates apprehended on the high seas as Indian laws do not permit their prosecution by our courts. :?:

There are, of course, ships of several other countries, including the United States, European Union member-states, Russia, Australia, China and Japan. The growing presence of Chinese vessels demonstrates the country's reach as the emerging naval power. It also juxtaposes China's undue sensitivity about the presence of other Navies on the South China Sea. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna observed recently: "China is taking more than normal interest in the Indian Ocean and we are monitoring it carefully."

The world's Navies have been tackling the consequences and addressing the symptoms of the underlying malaise, which is the destruction of Somalia as a state and the resultant anarchy and absence of the rule of law. The United Nations has been helping in the process, both on the political and peacekeeping aspects. But 8,000 troops provided by Uganda and Burundi are considered to be inadequate for the task. On a recent visit to Somalia, Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, complained that the international community "did not take the Somali problem seriously enough." Apparently, moves are afoot to increase the size of the troops to 12,000, whereas the African Union wants it to go up to 20,000 quickly.

'Not sea bandits'

Other factors also explain the piracy phenomenon. Sugule Ali, a pirate leader, stated: "We don't consider ourselves sea bandits. We consider sea bandits to be those who illegally fish and dump waste in our seas and carry weapons in our area." Objective analysts would agree that there is some merit in the argument, but this is hardly a justification for the continuing attacks. Piracy represents a serious challenge to international law and order. Therefore, international community must do more to resolve the fundamental issues, taking a holistic view. As experts have suggested, there is a need to deal with this problem "from the beach side, in concert with the ocean side." Further, what is required is to craft much greater cooperation among the countries concerned than has been secured so far.

Our strategic community and official agencies too should pay more attention to the prevailing conditions and power dynamics in the Horn of Africa. The government would be well advised to become more active in examining and discussing the complex problem in-depth with the governments in Eastern Africa, the African Union and others concerned so as to be able to make a meaningful contribution to its resolution. The Navy can do only fire-fighting, but surely India is capable of striving more at the diplomatic and political levels. What happens in the region has a direct bearing on our security and well-being, and this is becoming clearer and more urgent by the day.

(The author served as India's High Commissioner to Kenya and South Africa.)





http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article959202.ece?homepage=true

 

[Armand2REP]

If any of the major naval powers has an obligation to deal with Somali piracy it would be India. They have stated that the IOR is their primary area of responsibility and these acts of piracy undermine their control. Not that the world isn't happy that China is contributing to the effort, but India could easily have replaced that effort with a few more ships. The proximity of The Horn to the subcontinent leaves little reason India can't commit more forces. Here is what I suggest India does to restore dominance in the IOR...

1) set up an airfield in Seychelles for ISTAR aircraft and a naval refueling depot. They could use the base rent and India is now the most important thing to the Seychellian economy.

2) conduct regular convey schedules with IN as the lead contributor

3) Becoming lead contributor to the Atalanta mission would give control of EUNAVFOR deployment to Indian admirals

4) provide support to the AU mission in Somalia

5) Set it up in the UN that India will take and try all Somali prisoners

Result.... you dominate the Western IOR and will cut Somali piracy to a trickle.

 

[Rage]

India's ONGC Said to Lose Battle for Exxon's 25% Stake in Angola Oil Field

Mar 14, 2011 2:07 AM ET


Oil & Natural Gas Corp., India's biggest energy explorer, has lost a bid to buy Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM)'s 25 percent stake in an Angolan oil field, said two people with knowledge of the matter.

ONGC, based in New Delhi, had offered about $2 billion for the stake in Block 31 off Angola's coast, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the sale process is confidential.

State-owned ONGC is leading a drive by India to secure energy supplies overseas as demand for fuels rises in Asia's second-fastest-growing major economy after China. The Indian government has told ONGC and Oil India Ltd. to speed up purchases as competition with Chinese companies for resources heats up, Oil Secretary S. Sundareshan said a year ago.

Joeman Thomas, managing director of ONGC Videsh Ltd., ONGC's overseas investment unit, didn't answer three calls to his mobile phone today. Kevin Allexon, an Exxon spokesman, did not respond to an e-mail and two phone calls to his office outside of regular business hours.

The Indian company was informed a few weeks ago that another bidder had made a higher offer, one of the people said, adding that ONGC hasn't yet decided whether to raise its bid. Angolan Oil Minister Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos said in January that talks were continuing about ONGC buying Exxon's stake in the oil field.

ONGC submitted a binding bid in December for Exxon's stake in Block 31, which is scheduled to start production this year and may reach peak output of as much as 150,000 barrels a day, India's former Junior Oil Minister Jitin Prasada told lawmakers in New Delhi on Dec. 9.

BP Plc (BP/) owns 26.7 percent of Block 31 and is its operator, Prasada said in December. Its partners include Statoil ASA (STL), Total SA (FP), Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) and Angola's state-run oil company, Sonangol SA, according to the official.

Angola, which vies with Nigeria as Africa's top oil producer, pumped 590 million barrels from January to November.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-...for-exxon-s-25-stake-in-angola-oil-field.html

 

[Nonynon]

India's influence in eastern Africa

I heard something about it but I don't know any more information about it other then it has a long history of existing and that it's getting stronger lately.
So what is it, how can it be strengthened and what is it good for?

 

[Rage]

It's not influence. At least I wouldn't call it that.

Lots of East Africans are descendants of indentured labourers, primarily from the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and of Indian traders that settled there many eons ago, mostly Bori and Ismaili muslims. Lots of them have returned since the 1990's, particularly to Mumbai and the western state of Gujarat.

If you're referring to a more 'structural' influence, then I'd say, yeah there are a fair amount of investments in the region. Particularly in Tanzania, and to some extent, in Madagascar.

But, to boot, we invest a lot more in the western side of the region: Angola, Nigeria, the Congo and Liberia.

 

[civfanatic]

As India's Navy is rapidly increasing in size and power projection capabilities, we are trying to make the Indian Ocean "our pool". A big part of that lies in cooperating with East African nations on various economic and security issues.

 

[Nonynon]

Ok that explains it, thx.

 

[SHASH2K2]

India's stake in Africa's future

India's stake in Africa's future


A spectre is haunting Europe and America, home to the colonialists and cold warriors of yesterday, the spectre of an Africa — which they ruled and exploited for a century-and-a-half — now coming under the sway of rising powers like China and India.
Read any western account of the growing Chinese and Indian presence in Africa and chances are that the charge of 'new colonialism' will figure somewhere. And if there is 'new colonialism,' can new colonial rivalries be far behind? In this telling, not only are China and India sucking Africa dry, but the two are also said to be locked in competition with each other for access to Africa's mineral wealth and oil.
So central is the notion of an Oriental 'Scramble for Africa' to the western mind that it is almost impossible to speak of India's presence in Africa without dragging China in as well. Consider this typical lede from a report on the forthcoming Africa-India summit in Addis Ababa, filed by the French news agency, AFP: "India will seek to expand its economic footprint in Africa, where rival China has made major inroads, at a second summit between the South Asian powerhouse and African nations this week."
Like other spectres the West conjures up from time to time, the actual picture in Africa is not so frightening, least of all for the Africans themselves. "What they say doesn't make sense," Oldemiro Baloi, Foreign Minister of Mozambique, told a group of Indian journalists in Maputo last month. "We did not fight for our independence just to shift from one colonial master to another. And India and China did not support our liberation struggle in order to enslave us." The West doesn't like to be challenged but Africa has an interest in diversifying its partners, he added. "India is itself a poor country which has values based on solidarity and does not impose conditionalities or attach strings to its aid. Earlier, the western countries would complain implicitly about India and China but now they are more blunt. 'Why is India doing this, why is China doing this?' And we say, because they are good, they are competitive."
Though the tendency to see India and China as rivals in Africa is widespread, the fact is that the Chinese investment and trade presence are much larger. But there is another reason why the 'rivals' frame may be deceptive: from the perspective of Africa, the two countries have core competences which may actually complement each other in many ways.
The Chinese excel in large infrastructure projects and have deep pockets while the Indians have an edge in ICT, capacity building and training and also emerging areas like agriculture and floriculture. The Indian ability to relate to Africans is also much greater, which is why non-Indian MNCs prefer to use Indians as managers for projects involving interaction with local officials and populations. The fact that India is a democracy, and a chaotic one at that, may mean Chinese companies steal a march over Indian ones. But India's democratic culture and consultative approach make it an attractive partner for African nations looking to enhance their own skills and capabilities. In other words, Africa is looking to do business with both China and India at the same time and there does seem to be more than enough room for both.
And yet, there's no reason for India to be complacent. As the African economy emerges, its politics stabilises and new opportunities arise, competition from around the world will be stiff. The world can look forward to greater supply of food, minerals and energy but Africa has the right to drive a tough bargain. India is well placed because of the unique set of capabilities it offers. At the same time, it must consciously avoid the path of exploitation other big powers before it have taken.
Thus far, India's engagement with Africa has operated at two levels. The first level is official, where the government has grafted on to the political goodwill built up over several decades some real financial heft. After pursuing regional and pan-African initiatives like the Team-9 framework for cooperation in West Africa and the e-network project, the first Africa-India summit in 2008 envisaged a line of credit worth $5.6 billion to be spent on development and capacity building projects. Least-developed African nations were to get preferential access to the Indian market and India also committed itself to establishing 19 centres of excellence and training institutions in different fields across Africa.
Side by side with this official thrust, the Indian private sector has also shown a willingness to invest billions of dollars in Africa. The Second Africa-India summit to be held in Ethiopia this week is likely to increase the pace of this engagement. There is talk of pushing bilateral trade with Africa to $70 billion by 2015, up from the current level of $46 billion. Cumulative Indian investments in Africa stood at $90 billion in 2010 and are likely to rise dramatically in the years ahead.
At the same time, there are several steps India needs to take to ensure the current momentum is maintained and even intensified.
First, India must ramp up its diplomatic presence in Africa. Indian companies and citizens will be more likely to work in countries where India maintains an embassy. And it would help if these embassies were robustly staffed by young diplomats anxious to make a mark rather than by those at the fag end of their career who see a tour of duty in Africa as a punishment posting and who have little or no interest in African culture and society.
Second, the government should consider establishing a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to pursue strategic investments and business opportunities in Africa, especially in sectors such as mining, infrastructure and agriculture. Such an SPV could harness the talent and resources that the Indian public and private sectors have to offer but which their managements are often unable to utilise in overseas projects in a timely manner for a variety of reasons.
Third, the SPV or some other official entity must pay attention to corporate social responsibility issues connected to all Indian FDI projects in Africa, especially since many of them might be in countries where domestic regulatory frameworks for workers' rights and environmental protection are inadequate or dysfunctional. As public pressure in India makes it less easy for Indian companies to cut corners at home, some of the motivation to invest in Africa might be linked to their belief that they can get away with dodgy business practices there. India has a strategic interest in ensuring that Indian companies operating abroad act responsibly and must come up with an appropriate monitoring mechanism.
Fourth, there must be a strict audit of all monies disbursed through the Lines of Credit for Africa. Two years ago, there were reports of questionable dealings in the subsidised export of rice to a number of sub-Saharan African countries. With Indian credit lines now running into several billion dollars — the eventual beneficiaries of which will be Indian companies and suppliers to whom recipient governments are obliged to buy from — there must be complete transparency in the process from start to finish.
Fifth, a greater effort should be made to build on the domain knowledge and cultural equity that the Indian diaspora across Africa has in abundance about local business conditions and customs. It is estimated that there are as many as two million people of Indian origin living in Africa. Though the bulk of the diaspora is in countries like South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria, Indian businessmen and even teachers and professionals can be found in virtually every African country. For a variety of reasons, these communities are not so well integrated within the political and cultural milieu of their host countries. But the more economic and cultural interaction there is between India and Africa, that could well change.
Sixth, the "commerce of ideas" that Mahatma Gandhi envisaged the future relationship between India and Africa to revolve around should be made a central element of Indian policy. The 2.2 billion people of India and Africa share many problems and could learn from each other's experiences in resolving these. Promoting partnerships between the media and academic communities might be one way to do this. Innovative work in the field of handicrafts has just started and the rich field of cultural interaction has remained practically unexplored. As much if not more than business deals and lines of credit, it is this commerce of ideas which will provide true depth to the emerging partnership between Africa and India.

 

[Vikramaditya]

Africa to support India's Security Council candidature

ADDIS ABABA: Africa Wednesday declared its unambiguous support for India's candidature for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council and backed New Delhi's stand for reform of global institutions of governance.

"Africa not only expects from India but will be able to assist India in areas like the UN reforms," Teodore Obiang Nguema Mbasago, chairperson of the African Union and president of Equatorial Guinea, told reporters at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"India will be able to count on the support of Africa (for India's bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council)," Mbasago said at the end of the two-day 2nd India-Africa Summit at the African Union headquarters here.

The 53-nation African Union holds the key to reform and changes in the UN Security Council if it votes as a bloc.

Africa to support India's Security Council candidature - The Economic Times

 

[gogbot]

This is excellent news ,
The African countries represent some 50+ votes in the UN , this is largest block to have on our side.
This makes building a consensus a lot easier

 

[Bot]

Very good news but .....

When will the UN security council reforms start ? Almost 10 years still no consensus on starting the process yet.

 

[nrj]

We'll hear progress on UNSC reforms after october.

GOI wants results on this as soon as possible. Most of the roadblocks are now cleared including Kashmir dispute.

 

[Godless-Kafir]

Wow What friendship, ideologies and common movements could not accomplish is done by a 5-billion dollar aid and a 600$ million annual commitment to growth. All hail the higher spiritual sense of man which never lets him down, greed and self-concern.

Now that we know how to handle Africa and its leaders which is some what similar to the desk Clark in any Indian government office, we can show our expertise in the art of bribery and sucking up when needed. Nothing else shows Tommy that you love him very dearly than huge chunk of money.

 

[SHASH2K2]

I think security council support is secondary issue here main issue is to fight it out with china to get access to natural resources there . without access to them our economic growth will stagnate.

 

[venkat]

So have the African countries offered a viable solution to the Indian hostage release and Somali piracy by Somali pirates to the Prime Minister?

 

[roma]

Wow What friendship, ideologies and common movements could not accomplish is done by a 5-billion dollar aid and a 600$ million annual commitment to growth.

well it's the reality and requires putting the money where the mouth was ..... am glad the GOI has had the brains and the money to make this importatn move..... i think india will fare much better than china in africa .... i hear prc-dragon has had a disastrous PR time in africa and india should be able to perform much better .....yeah the resources from africa far outweigh any UNSC support although no harm accepting their support for that too ..... thanks africa !

 

[ejazr]

India offers Africa a China-plus plan

India offers Africa a China-plus plan - Indian Express

If it's China's construction prowess that gives it a foothold in Africa, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's six-day trip to the continent sought to differentiate India's long-term strategic offering for Africa's many small states — helping them gain expertise in a range of services from education to healthcare and information technology.

This comes in addition to hefty lines of credit (LoC) to push investments and duty-free access to exports from Africa to improve bilateral trade.

African countries, too, have come to realise this. For instance, Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete highlighted this aspect of the India-China rivalry, particularly with reference to his country.

"China helped build a 200-bed hospital in Dar-es-Salaam and India is helping train our doctors in specialised areas of open-heart surgery and renal diseases," Kikwete said at a joint press conference with Singh today.

Last year, 29 Tanzanian doctors trained in India. "This is not enough. We want many more slots," Kikwete said.

Even as New Delhi is helping build capacities in African countries, the private sector is coming out of its shell to put their money in brick and mortar and large-scale organised farming, encouraged by some African countries' offer to set aside land for such investments.

Prathap Reddy-chaired Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd has decided to invest $150 million to set up a super-speciality hospital in Dar-es-Salaam. Kikwete offered support to Apollo for building four more such hospitals.

"We will focus on areas such as agriculture, small and medium industries, healthcare and human resource development. We support the President's national agriculture initiative. We will provide a new line of credit of $180 million for water supply projects in Dar-es-Salaam," Singh said.

In Addis Ababa, Singh had committed a $5-billion LoC to Africa over the next three years in addition to another $700 million specifically for improving education facilities and skill sets.

Besides healthcare and agriculture, Singh said, India is ready to provide all the help it can to enable Tanzania create a pool of world-class IT professionals.

"If we can produce a steady stream of highly trained scientists, technologists and engineers, our cooperation would be worthwhile and we would be putting our money to good use," he said inaugurating a Communication and Information Technology Centre of Excellence in the capital city.

"Maritime trade and people-to-people exchanges have drawn us closer. Today, we seek to build a modern and dynamic partnership on the strength of these traditional bonds," Singh had said earlier after the bilateral meeting with Kikwete. He also announced India's readiness to cooperate with Tanzania in the area of space technology and applications.

Kikwete said that since a bulk of Tanzania's population lives in rural areas, they are unable to enjoy the benefits of the country's fast economic growth.

"The economy grew 7 per cent last year, but people in rural areas are asking: is the economy growing?" he said. While telecom has growth 20 per cent, industry 10 per cent and tourism 40 per cent, the farm sector posted a sluggish growth rate of 4.3 per cent. "We need farm equipment, fertilisers, high yield seed varieties and better irrigation equipment," he said.

He offered Indian companies its abundant natural resources — natural gas and phosphate — to set up fertiliser plants. "We have these resources in plenty."

Kikwete also wanted the private sector to set up assembly plans to manufacture irrigation equipment. The two countries also signed a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) to create a more hospitable investment environment.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India-Africa bilateral trade to double in next 5 years

Business Line : Industry & Economy / Economy : India-Africa bilateral trade to double in next 5 years: FICCI

HYDERABAD, OCT. 12:
Bilateral trade between India and Africa is set to double in the next five years from the current level of $53 billion, with sectors such as transport equipment, services, health and agriculture projected to drive the growth.

This was the agenda set at the second India-Africa Business Partnership Summit, organized by FICCI, here on Wednesday. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy inaugurated the two-day summit, with over 120 African delegates and 250 Indian delegates, comprising heads of PSUs, corporate houses, government representatives and consultants participating in the event.

"Bilateral trade has more than doubled from $25 billion in 2006-07 to $53.3 billion in 2010-11. I see a faster growth in the next five years," Dr Rajiv Kumar, FICCI Secretary General, told Business Line.

According to an Exim Bank report, India's exports to Africa have surged from $10.3 billion in 2006-07 to $21.1 billion in 2010-11, primarily due to increase in exports of transport equipment and petroleum products.

The concomitant rise in imports from Africa during the comparable period attests to increased two-way relations, wherein India's imports from Africa have more than doubled from $14.7 billion to $32.2 billion, according to Dr Kumar.

The approved cumulative India's investments in Africa during 1996-2011 amount to $16.3 billion. This, according to the Exim Bank report, was largely driven by small and medium enterprises.

Mr T.C.A Ranganathan, Chairman and Managing Director of Exim Bank, said the bank was helping in the setting up of food processing, textile, diamond and IT clusters in Africa. "The diamond and IT clusters will be coming up at Botswana and Ghana respectively," he pointed out.

LOGISTICS SUPPORT

Global logistics solutions provider, DHL Global Forwarding has chipped in to improve logistics infrastructure between India and Africa, in tune with the projected growth in bilateral trade. The company plans to launch four Oil & Energy Centres of Excellence across the continent, including in Angola, Ghana and Kenya, over the next 12 months.

 

[nrj]

NEW DELHI: The ministry of food processing industries is planning to set up a food processing cluster in Africa. The proposed cluster would entail an investment of Rs 117 crore to be spent primarily on the setting up of common infrastructure for food processing parks which includes cold storage, food testing labs, incubation centres, standard designed factories, pre-cooling chambers and other modern technologies used by the industry.

This cluster is part of India's $5-billion credit line for Africa announced at the India-Africa Forum Summit last year.

"The cluster is likely to come up within next three years. We are floating a competitive bid to appoint a project management agency which will help the ministry in implementing this project," said a top ministry official.


The ministry is looking at 4-5 groups of countries for this project. A cluster comprising countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania is in race with another group comprising Angola, Botswana and Namibia.

"The location will be decided by African Union. The union will also provide free of cost land with last-mile connectivity, basic infrastructure, fast-track clearance and incentives to attract investment into the cluster. The proposed cluster would attract more investment if it is established in countries close to Europe which export food products in large quantities," he said.

The cluster will address a particular value chain or a combination of value chains. It will reduce the post-harvest losses and wastages. Some estimates indicate that in the case of perishable commodities such as fruits, vegetables and fish, as much as 50% of production may deteriorate and may be lost due to a lack of proper storage facilities.

"The cluster will be able to process 2.5 lakh tonne of raw materials a year, primarily horticulture produce. We will rope in private companies to set up their shops in African clusters. This will help these companies to do business outside India and have an access to cheaper raw material. They can market their food products in domestic markets of Africa, at the same time export their products to European and other Asian countries from their African base," he said.

In civil war-ravaged Africa, small-scale food processing industries are mostly in rural regions creating jobs and income for about 60% of the labour force. It has a great potential for food production, but in many areas needs an input of overseas capital in the form of industries and expertise.

Government proposes food processing cluster in Africa at Rs 117 crore - Economic Times

 

[nrj]

To counter China, India aims at Africa toehold

Desperately seeking an entry into the resource-rich Africa, India has offered its capabilities in science and technology and institution building to the African countires.

The idea behind the offer is to help African nations develop and market home-grown commercial products, which eventually will help them come out of their poverty.

As a quid pro quo, New Delhi expects more access to Africa's rich mineral reserves, including strategic minerals, and some diplomatic leverage in a continent where China wields considerable influence.

Over the years, China established diplomatic relations with 48 out of 54 African nations and invested heavily in building roads, ports and other infrastructure in those countires. Africa is a stable trading partner and resource supplier for China.

"Our strategy is to invest in knowledge and skills to uplift the quality of life for Africans. Africa needs roads and ports, but it also requires more education, job and better quality life, where we intend to score," pointed out a scientist associated with building Indo-African partnership in science.

The Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Science and Technology in association with the African Union have been working on a science and technology programme since 2010. Some of the initiatives are already showing results.

More than 50 scientists from Central Leather Research Institute in Chennai went to Ethiopia in the last two years to train African researchers on how to convert animal hide into world-class leather products. The experience encouraged other African countries to take a leaf out of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) book.

"We want to establish a series of scientific institutes, which can be a point of connection for the industry following CSIR model," said V S Massingve, MozambiqueScience Minister.

The CSIR plans to set up its first three outstation research centres in Mozambique, Tanzania and Democratic Republic Congo for application and industry oriented scientific research.

India is extending help to set up a weather forecasting centre for helping African nations with accurate weather forecasting, required in agriculture. A textile cluster and more support to the Pan-African University in Nigeria are also in the offing.

National Innovation Foundation, that promotes grass root innovation, signed an agreement with the science ministries of Mozambique and Zimbabwe for the transfer of products innovated by grass root innovators in India. Both the agreements were signed during the first India-Africa science and technology ministerial conference.

To counter China, India aims at Africa toehold