The ascendency of India as an economic world power

The Indian Prime Minister said his country's trade with Africa has expanded, saying "India is also a large growing market. We wish to see many more African companies doing business in India. We will facilitate this process." He said India seeks to promote healthy relations with African countries, adding that "Ours is a partnership for peace, stability and security. Without peace, there cannot be sustained economic progress. Both India and Nigeria seek peace and stability in their neighbourhood. Nigeria's contributions to conflict resolution in Africa are well known."

Dr. Singh disclosed that technical cooperation between India and African countries has reached an outlay of over one billion US Dollars. "Annually, over 15,000 African students study in India. Many Indian engineers, doctors, accountants live and work in Africa."

He said India seeks much greater convergence with Africa and in line with that aspiration, "We have decided to create a high level dialogue with the great continent of Africa. The first meeting of the India-Africa Forum Summit will be hosted by us in New Delhi in April, 2008. We look forward to Nigeria's active contribution to this initiative."

 

At the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit in Pretoria, Singh, South African President Thabo Mbeki and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva would be looking at ways to make the relationship among the three countries more "tangible".

Besides deepening South-South cooperation through concrete projects and programmes in key areas of trilateral cooperation, the meeting is expected to provide an opportunity to the leaders to coordinate joint positions on issues of global importance.

The meeting is likely to come out with a joint declaration and memoranda of understanding and agreements on public administration, higher education, health and medicines, social development, cultural cooperation and energy.