Mutual support between India and various African countries is going to be top on the agenda today as summit discussions wrap up in New Delhi.

The final deliberations at the third IndiaAfrica Forum Summit (IAFS) holding in New Delhi will take place today 29th October, 2015, with the official gathering of leaders from Africa and their Indian host at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex. Reflections which began on Monday, 26th October, 2015 have pointed to the need for mutual support to enable both India and the different African countries meet their goals. The concern to have at least one permanent seat from both parties at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has figured prominently on the agenda.  Both the experts’ meeting on Monday and that of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, have been examining mechanisms that India and Africa can put in place for the developing countries to have their say as global actors on the international scene rather than depend wholly on others. To get the entire concept right, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India spent yesterday 28 October 2015, holding talks with Heads of State and Government who were already in India for the Summit. Although little filtered out of the talks, the course for the African Continent and India was evident from the bilateral talks that the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Honourable Ms Sushma-Swaraj had with her counterparts from Africa on Tuesday.    The wordings of the political declaration expected as part of the final statement from the
Summit after today’s official speeches will likely point to India’s bid for a permanent seat at the UNSC. Although the African position has hardly been unique on issues, the presence of all 54 countries from the Continent in New Delhi with about 20 at the level of President or head of government could be a sign that Prime Minister Modi has achieved his desired goal of moving relations between his country and Africa to a much higher level.  Sources indicate that “there will be a statement — in the political document — in which India and Africa express commitment to multi-lateralism and strengthening of the democratic structure of the United Nations to increase participation of
developing counties in the decision-making processes”. According to officials involved in the negotiations, the draft of the political document also has a formulation which says; “Africa takes note of India’s position and its aspirations to become a permanent member with full rights in an expanded UN Security Council”. To further buttress the Indian argument, the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) – a think tank based in New Delhi has delved extensively on the way forward for the India-Africa partnership pointing out accomplishments in healthcare. Aligning with Africa’s Agenda 2063 which states that; “every citizen will have full access to af
fordable and quality health care services” on the continent, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recently drafted by the UNO to amend the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the RIS insists that, “IndiaAfrica development cooperation in the health sector, including in drugs and pharmaceutical products, yields social and economic dividends.” For instance, through a programme called Cipla’s Dollar a Day Treatment Programme, the largest generic Indian firm Cipla, took the initiative to reduce the cost of HIV/AIDS treatment dropping the cost of Antiretrovirals (ARVs) below a dollar a day. In 2011, the plan was effectively carried out in Cameroon, Kenya, Lesotho, and Zambia. Cameroon is equally part of the 48 African countries that signed the Pan African e-Network Project (PAENP) launched in 2009 by late Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam setting up an e-network connecting Indian institutions to Africa through optical fibre links, and providing teleeducation and telemedicine services on the continent. In order to boast infrastructure, encourage economic growth and create jobs in Africa the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India has, in collaboration with the African Development Bank, engaged in several development initiatives on the continent with funds and incentives to enable India companies invest in Africa. In all, even if the objectives of this third IndiaAfrica Forum Summit may take time to attain, clichés of Indians seeing Africa as a single country and Africans viewing India in terms of magical powers will melt away sooner.