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More than
50 African heads of states and government are taking part in summit this week AFP
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Today the India-Africa
Forum Summit kicks-off in Delhi - and India is going all out to woo Africa with
a huge, colourful and noisy affair. It is one of the biggest events the country has
ever hosted. And there's a reason for the fuss: Annual trade between the two
has gone up from US$3bn (£1.9bn) in 2000 to about US$70bn today.
BBC report continues:
It's
the business community in India that has traditionally played the biggest role
in defining the country's relationship with Africa - from Punjabi farmers
leasing large swathes of land for agriculture to industrialists setting up
telecom networks and factories.
But
India's Africa ties lag far behind China.
Now,
with China's growth slowing down - many here see an opportunity to narrow that
gap.
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Muhammadu
Buhari at 70th UN General Assembly
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President
Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja on Tuesday for New Delhi to participate in
the 3rd Summit of the India-Africa Forum aimed at boosting socio-economic development
in Africa and India.
This
is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Special Adviser on
Media and Publicity to the president, Femi Adesina.
The
India-Africa Forum was established in 2008 as the official platform for the
advancement of mutually-beneficial relations between India and African nations.
Mr.
Adesina stated that President Buhari, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi,
and other participating Heads of State and Government would deliberate on
issues of common concern to their countries such as climate change and
international terrorism.
He
noted that this year’s summit would enable the leaders to discuss additional
measures aimed at boosting joint collaboration to accelerate the pace of
socio-economic development in Africa and India.
The
summit, which follows the 2nd Summit held in Addis Ababa in 2011, will enable
the leaders to deliberate on further cooperation for the alleviation of
poverty, and the eradication of hunger, disease and illiteracy.
President
Buhari would hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and other senior
Indian government officials on Wednesday, ahead of the opening of the summit on
Thursday.
He
would also meet with Chief Executive Officers of Indian companies with existing
or prospective interests in Nigeria before returning to Abuja on October 30.
The
President would be accompanied by the governors of Kano and Delta states, as
well as the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.
Others
include Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Defence, Power,
Communications Technology, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade and
Investment.
BBC/NAN
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