India’s growing engagement with Africa has emerged as a multifaceted phenomenon, marked by both advantageous prospects and inherent challenges. The heightened interest of India in the African continent is underpinned by a desire to foster economic partnerships, enhance geopolitical influence, and address common developmental concerns. On the positive side, this outreach has the potential to bolster economic growth, create mutually beneficial trade relationships, and promote cultural exchanges between India and African nations. The collaborative efforts in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and technology can contribute to the overall progress of both regions. However, this burgeoning relationship also brings forth its share of challenges. Concerns over neocolonialism, resource exploitation, and the potential for increased competition with other global players in the African arena raise questions about the nature of India’s involvement. Furthermore, navigating diverse political landscapes, historical complexities, and ensuring equitable benefits for local communities pose significant hurdles. A critical examination of India’s increasing interest in Africa demands a nuanced analysis, weighing the potential advantages against the risks and complexities inherent in such a strategic pivot.
Tag: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, you can write a brief description of India-Africa ties.
- In Body, you need to assess both sides i.e., pros and cons of Increasing interest of India in Africa.
- Conclude with suggesting a way ahead..
Answer:
India and Africa have been connected by ancient maritime links, and the common struggle against colonialism. India’s partnership with Africa is underpinned by geographical and cultural affinities and is comprehensive and multidimensional.The nature of India-Africa bilateral engagement is diverse, encompassing areas pertaining to education, healthcare, science, technology, infrastructure, and capacity building.
India-Africa Relation – History
- India’s relations with Africa date back several centuries. The geographical proximity and easy navigability in the Indian Ocean resulted in a well-established trade network between India and the Swahili Coast predating European exploration.
- Political connection during the colonial era was linked through M.K Gandhi who began his political career in South Africa, became the leader of the colonized, and established the Indian Natal Congress in 1894.
- After India gained independence, it raised its voice for African liberation taking their case to all the available international forums
- The end of racial struggle and decolonization became the rallying point of India–Africa relations.
- Independent India, though extremely poor after two centuries of colonial exploitation, strived to share its limited resources with African countries under the banner of South-South cooperation.
- India was a forerunner as a champion of the interests of the developing countries from Africa, particularly through the Bandung Declaration of 1955, the Group of 77, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
- However, due to various factors like India’s financial weakness and inward-looking economic policies India could not develop broader strategic relations with Africa.
Increasing Interest of India in Africa- Pros:
- The partnership is based on a model of cooperation: India’s partnership with Africa is based on a model of cooperation which is demand-driven, free of conditionalities and responsive to the needs of African countries.
- Areas of Defence and Security: India’s cooperation with Africa in the areas of defence and maritime security has strengthened over the past many years. India along with Africa is determined to fight terrorism all together.
- Multidimensional approach to engage Africa: The establishment of a line of credit to African nations, as a form of development cooperation. Indian aid has also been augmented with digital initiatives like e-Vidya Bharti and e-Arogya Bharti focusing on education and medicine. such initiatives fostered much goodwill and influence among both present and future African elites.
- Trade Ties: The Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) benefitted African nations and has contributed towards steady increase in India’s trade figures.
- African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), which is expected to boost intra-African trade by elimination of import duties and non-tariff barriers will make Africa the largest free trade area in the world and for India.
- Energy Ties: India is keen to develop its energy security partnership with Africa for mutual benefit and convert it from a buyer-seller to a strategic partnership as a real stakeholder.
- Sustainable ties w.r.t to climate change: Climate change and Global warming remain one of the major threats, particularly for developing regions like Africa and India as it affects food and energy supply chains in both regions. In this regard, India proposed the setting up of an International solar alliance as well as bringing coastal countries together to harness ocean wave energy.
- Developmental project: The ambitious India-Japan-Africa Growth Corridor (IJAGC), conceived through converging Indian and Japanese interests, aims to achieve closer developmental cooperation with Africa.
Increasing Interest of India in Africa- Cons:
- Capacity building alone will not suffice: Compared to China’s use of financial and military aid, India has, for the most part, been losing out. India needs to present a more energetic strategy, especially to Indian companies seeking to expand in Africa.
- Racial Attack on African Students: India enjoys the affection and confidence of Africans in general, but racial attack-related incidents and violence against African students in India can damage that goodwill in no time at the grassroots level.
- The absence of peace and security: Peace and security are a prerequisite for development Projects by India. Civil wars and protests can inhibit development works in Africa.
- The increasing gulf between the rich and poor is a feature of both regions: Entrenched social inequities on both sides of the ocean lead to inequitable distribution of development dividends.
- Issues of piracy, smuggling, trafficking, and terrorism: The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is an economic and strategic “common” for India and Africa.
Significance of Africa to India
- Resource-rich region – Africa is a resource-rich nation dominated by commodities like crude oil, gas, pulses and lentils, leather, gold, and other metals, all of which India lacks in sufficient quantities.
- Energy Security – India is seeking diversification of its oil supplies away from the Middle East and Africa can play an important role in India’s energy matrix.
- Strategic Interests – especially with regards to the Horn of Africa region, which is an essential shipping lane that connects the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.
- Investment Opportunities – several African countries have been providing incentives to attract foreign investors and partners in growth thus providing an opportunity for India.
- The African continent has a population of over one billion with a combined GDP of 2.5 trillion dollars making it a huge potential market.
- Economic Growth – Africa is home to over half a dozen of the fastest-growing countries of this decade such as Rwanda, Senegal, and Tanzania, etc making it one of the growth poles of the world.
- Reform in Global Institutions – India’s ambition to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council makes it imperative that it engages with all 54 countries of the continent.
- Convergence of interest – both partners are aligned on the outstanding issues at the World Trade Organization and are in favor of multilateral trading systems.
An African proverb that is popular in India – “if you want to walk fast walk alone, if you want to walk far, walk together”. Africa and India have a long way to go to provide food, energy, health, and rights to their people. The India -Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi in October 2015 was the largest summit of its kind. The India-Africa partnership is garnering the attention it deserves but leaders need to move beyond tokenism and liberate the potential of Africa and India as the two growth poles of the world. Forever connected by the Indian Ocean, India-Africa can write their destinies together.
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