Indian-African relations

Energy, investment and diplomatic relations are expected to be high on the agenda of the second India-Africa Forum Summit that kicks off on Tuesday. Piracy and terrorism will also be discussed by Prime Minister Singh during his meetings with heads of African states.

The five-day summit, which is being held three years after the inaugural event in New Delhi, is an important economic and political platform for India and Africa, who are historically close allies in the struggle for independence and equality.

Ajay Dubey, an Indian expert on Africa explains that India has a definite interest in Africa because: "It is not just the UN security council seat restructuring but also its own energy security needs for which Africa has good resources, its also industry which needs raw material. It has a substantial number of people of Indian origin in Africa."

Second meeting

The first Indo-Africa summit in 2008 saw $5.4 billion in credit and $500 million worth of grants announced. Now, leaders meeting in the Ethiopian capital are hoping to set new targets. For example, $100 billion for bilateral trade and $150 billion for investment flows over the next three years. Two-way trade between India and Africa is $46 billion at present.

Over the past decade, China and India have established themselves as increasingly influential players across Africa, which may turn out to be one of the most significant developments in the continent in recent years.

But given Beijing’s vast foreign reserves and state-backed entrepreneurial model, observers say India’s approach will continue to be one of a "soft power".

No comparison to China

Srikant Kondapalli of Jawaharlal Nehru University says India's trade with Africa cannot yet compare to China's trade with the continent. "Chinese trade with Africa is becoming the second largest with over $100 billion." But he points out that India, nonetheless, has several advantages: "one is the geographical proximity, secondly in terms of the diaspora. So India has a head start from this vantage point of getting more closely connected with the African continent geographically, historically, traditionally, culturally, economically … but China is pushing hard in terms of its rise and in terms of resource diplomacy."

William Nkurunziza, Rwanda’s ambassador to India, says he wants India to play a bigger role in Africa. "We welcome India’s increased capacity to get involved in finding solutions for the challenges that Africa has, particularly in the area of education and in the area of technology transfer." Nkurunziza adds, "We particularly are very excited about the pan-African e-network, which has been funded by the Indian government and empowers Africa and our two continents to bridge the digital divide."

Connecting the African continent

While China does have an economic edge compared to India, India in the long run could have a better political formula for connecting to the African continent.

Apart from co-chairing the summit, PM Manmohan Singh is also expected to hold discussions with his Ethiopian counterpart, Meles Zenawi, and to address the country’s parliament. It is the first ever visit to Ethiopia by an Indian head of government.

Singh will also be the first non-African head of state to visit the East African nation of Tanzania since President Jakaya Kikwete assumed office for a second term. He will stay there for three days as part of efforts to consolidate relations between the two countries.

Author: Murali Krishnan
Editor: Sarah Berning