Indian PM arrives in Ethiopia seeking to build strategic ties with Africa
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
May 23, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) – Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, arrived in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday to attend the second India-Africa Forum, which aimed to push a strong and strategic partnership between India and African countries.
Singh will co-chair the two-day summit on Tuesday, to be attended by 15 African countries chosen by the African Union (AU). Sudan Tribune has learned that boosting Africa-India trade and investment, joint cooperation to combat threats of piracy and terrorism will be high on the agenda.
The Indian premier is expected to call for reform of the UN. Ahead of the India-Africa Forum, India has been seeking African support to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council has backed Africa’s demands for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
The summit is expected to enhance South-South cooperation as Singh. In a statement said “the India-Africa partnership rests on three pillars of capacity building and skill transfer, trade and infrastructure development”.
“India-Africa Forum is designed to respond to the needs and priorities of Africa and for India to learn from Africa’s rich experience. It is based on equality, mutual trust and a consultative and transparent approach. It is a living embodiment of South-South cooperation,” he said.
“Africa is emerging as a new growth pole of the world, while India is on a path of sustained and rapid economic development.”
India’s bilateral trade with Africa is estimated to be around $50 billion. India has set a target to boost this to $70 billion by 2012. This will still lag far behind China’s bilateral trade with Africa, which is currently around $110 billion.
India’s investment in Ethiopia increased by 22 percent in 2010 has recently gone past $5 billion. The summit, being held in Africa for the first time will be an important opportunity for Ethiopia (one of continent’s fastest growing economies) to use the large presence of delegates to attract trade and investment.
Manmohan Singh is also expected to meet Ethiopian Prime minister Meles Zenawi and address parliament before heading to Tanzania on Thursday on a six-day visit to Africa.
The summit will bring together leaders from Egypt, Kenya, Algeria, Chad, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Malawi, Senegal, Namibia, Mauritania, Swaziland, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Jean Ping, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, will also take part in the summit.
(ST)