Absence of IAFS for a long period warrant reflecting on the Opportunities and Challenges in India-Africa relations.
- Three IAFS have been held previously in 2008, 2011 and 2015, with a focus on broader development cooperation.
Opportunities in India-Africa Relations
- Trade: African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creates a single market, offering Indian investors immense scale and access.
- India is Africa's third-largest trading partner (after EU and China) with trade surpassing $100 billion.
- African-led development: Africa has been one of the world’s fastest-growing regions over past decade and this growth translates into an expanding consumer base, growing young workforce and presenting vast market opportunities.
- Soft Diplomacy: Human resource development through education and healthcare cooperation.
- E.g. IITs campuses, Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), Pan-African e-Network.
- Representation in Global Institutions: India supports African representation in global institutions which boosts India’s leadership in global South-South Cooperation.
- E.g. India’s push for membership for African Union in the G-20.
- Technological cooperation: India can aid Africa in leapfrogging digital infrastructure deficits through initiatives like Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
Challenges
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