Modi's 10 principles to guide India's engagement with Africa
PM Modi in Uganda
Modi listed the 10 principles in Uganda's Parliament. 'Africa will be at the top of our priorities. We will continue to intensify and deepen our engagement with Africa. As we have shown, it will be sustained and regular,' he said
In an address to the Parliament of Uganda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today listed ten principles to guide India's engagement with Africa.
In his first principle, the PM promised to keep Africa as a top Indian priority.
He said, "One, Africa will be at the top of our priorities. We will continue to intensify and deepen our engagement with Africa. As we have shown, it will be sustained and regular".
He also promised that this India-Africa development partnership will be guided by Africa's priorities.
"Two, our development partnership will be guided by your priorities. It will be on terms that will be comfortable for you, that will liberate your potential and not constrain your future. We will build as much local capacity and create as much local opportunities as possible".
"Three, we will keep our markets open and make it easier and more attractive to trade with India. We will support our industry to invest in Africa", he added.
"Four, we will harness India’s experience with digital revolution to support Africa’s development, improve delivery of public services, extend education and health, spread digital literacy, expand financial inclusion and mainstream the marginalised".
"Five, Africa has 60% of the world’s arable land, but produces just 10% of the global output. We will work with you to improve Africa’s agriculture. Six, our partnership will address the challenges of climate change".
"Seven, we will strengthen our cooperation and mutual capabilities in combating terrorism and extremism, keeping our cyberspace safe and secure and supporting the UN in advancing and keeping peace".
"Eight, we will work with African nations to keep the oceans open and free for the benefit of all nations. The world needs cooperation and not competition in the eastern shores of Africa and the eastern Indian Ocean".
"Nine, as global engagement in Africa increases. We must all work together to ensure that Africa does not once again turn into a theatre of rival ambitions but becomes a nursery for the aspirations of Africa’s youth".
"Ten, just as India and Africa fought colonialism together, we will work together for a just, representative and democratic global order that has a voice and a role for one-third of humanity that lives in Africa and India".
Stating that India was proud to be in partnership with Africa, the prime minister also said, "Uganda is central to our commitment to the continent. I announced yesterday two Lines of Credit for Uganda. The first, of US$ 141 million for electricity lines and the second, of US$ 64 million for agriculture & dairy production"
He said India's principles of independence movement which includes the universal quest for liberty, dignity, equality and opportunity for every human being applied the most to Africa.
Referring to the shared struggle for independence, ancient maritime links, dark age of colonialism, uncertain paths as independent countries in a divided world, the dawn of the new opportunities and unity of aspirations of our young population, he laid emphasis on how India was connected to Africa.
The PM also said that they would build a Gandhi Heritage Centre in Africa in Jinja where a statue of Gandhi ji stands.
"At the sacred site in Jinja,where a statue of Gandhi ji stands, we'll build a Gandhi Heritage Centre. As we approach 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,there can be no better homage than a Centre to remind us of Africa’s role in shaping his mission" he said.
Our partnership currently includes implementation of 180 Lines of Credit worth about US$ 11 billion in over 40 African countries. In last Africa-India Forum Summit, we had committed a concessional Line of Credit of US$ 10 billion & US$ 600 million in grant assistance.
India pursued Afro-Asian solidarity in Bandung. We stood firm in opposition to apartheid in South Africa. We took leading and bold positions in former Rhodesia – now Zimbabwe, in Guinea Bassau, Angola and Namibia".
PM Modi who is on a two-day visit to Africa is thefirst Indian prime minister to address the Ugandan Parliament.
He met the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni on Monday and discussed trade, investment and tourism with him.
(With inputs from ANI)