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India-Africa Strategic Dialogue
The concluding session of this dialogue in the form of a panel discussion on various issues in the India-Africa partnership. In was reiterated that the purpose of this dialogue is to find solutions to the common problems faced by both the sides as well as to seek the way forward for enhancing understanding and cooperation between India and Africa. There needs to be more academic conferences and dialogues between both sides which will be useful in enhancing India-Africa partnership.
Common solutions between India and Africa can only emerge if each side listens to the other aimed at crafting common solutions to our common problems. Since 2008, India has been taking several initiatives for enhancing India-Africa partnership. But there is not enough enthusiasm to these initiatives from African side. Africa’s approach to these initiatives has been reactive only. These needs to be more diplomatic initiatives from both the sides. India needs to do a re-balancing of its policies in Africa. India has neglected western Africa. Enough attention should be given this region as well apart from focusing on southern and eastern Africa. There is a need to have an integrated approach. The time has come to develop a macro policy of India towards Africa which should be reciprocated in a similar way. India should also have micro policy towards Africa focusing on specific sectors. India-Africa partnership is doing well and this must be enhanced further.
Food security is of vital importance for both India and Africa. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for both the sides. There is a need to enhance agricultural partnership between India and Africa. There is a need to have evergreen revolution. He pointed out that globalisation has created a gap between rich and poor. There is also tremendous aspirations among youth due to information technology revolution such as social media etc. It should be deliberated upon what India and Africa can do together to deal with these challenges and opportunities. On global governance issues India and Africa are on the same side. Both the sides need to have regular dialogue on various global issues. India and Africa need to have regional dialogue as well. There are some ongoing dialogues but there is a need to upgrade it. There is need to upgrade the nature of engagement between India and Africa. Other than developmental initiatives, there should also be regular dialogue on political and strategic issues as well.
In order to realise full potential in India-Africa partnership, we need to have better understanding and more need to done in this regard. After 2008, there is better government to government cooperation between India and Africa and there is increased economic engagement but there is no mechanisms to monitor this engagement. There is a need to utilise the Indian diaspora in Africa for enhancing our partnership. Diaspora can play vital role in enhancing India-Africa partnership. He pointed out that treating Africa as one entity is not working. There needs to be bilateral engagements with African nations.
The fragmentation of Africa puts up constraints not only for India-Africa partnership but also for China-Africa partnership and Japan-Africa partnership etc. Something needs to be done to address this constraint. India and Africa should work together for promoting Asia-Africa partnership. Both the sides should develop common understanding in this regard. There needs to be work for India-Africa ocean governance and enhanced maritime dialogue between the two sides. India and Africa should work towards UN reforms as well.
Points made during discussion
- There is a need to evolve a better structure for India-Africa forum summit. This summit is held once in every three years. This time gap is long. The timing of this summit needs to be given a reconsideration. At least, there should be sub-summits between during this period.
- There should be an India-Africa security dialogue at track one level as well.
- A theme based structured dialogue between India and Africa would be helpful in enhancing engagements, understanding and cooperation between both the sides.
- There a need for greater transparency in implementation of various programmes between India and Africa.
- There is a need to set up dialogue mechanisms at track two level which could move up towards 1.5 level which will help in enhancing India-Africa partnership.
- Banjul formula is working fine and we need to continue with it as well as strengthen it.
Report prepared by Sanjeev Kumar Shrivastav, Researcher, IDSA.