Page 7 - AsiaElec Week 44 2022

AsiaElec POLICY AsiaElec
New India-Africa

defence pact gives a

boost to cooperation

INDIA THE India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) colonial past.
took place on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in India has overtaken the US and is currently
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on October 18. The con- the third biggest destination for African exports,
ference, presided over by Rajnath Singh, India’s after the EU and China, according to the 2018
Minister of Defence, was attended by represent- UN Report.
atives from 50 African countries and focused on India introduced the ‘Duty Free Tariff Pref-
strengthening cooperation in the defence field. erence Scheme’ for LDCs (Low Development
Singh opened the conference by stating that Countries) in 2008, eliminating customs duties
“India remains united with African countries in for imports from several African countries.
their quest for peace, security, stability, growth India’s holistic aid model encompasses eco-
and prosperity”, and confirmed the country’s nomic cooperation, humanitarian assistance
commitment to African development, previ- through community development, education,
ously pledged by the Prime Minister, Narendra training and technical assistance. The key areas
Modi, during his address to the Parliament of of trade and cooperation include education,
Uganda in 2018. healthcare, military and maritime security, ICTs
The event showcased Indian defence equip- and sustainable development. India’s involve-
ment and technologies, reaffirming India’s ment in Africa widely benefits from the African
emerging role as a leading defence exporter. Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which
The IADD is just the latest step in the deep- came into force in 2019 to facilitate the move-
ening India-Africa relationship. India has long ment of goods between African nations and to
been trying to claim its role as a leading partner boost foreign investments.
for the emerging continent, whose vast resources India is also a founding member of the
appeal to all global powers. Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), a trade
India is entering the struggle for power and programme jointly launched with Japan in 2017
influence over Africa in a bid to counter China’s and open to all Asian nations not aligned with
relentless activity in the continent, and never China. The AAGC commits to long-term invest-
misses the chance to highlight its differences ments in Africa, on the basis that Africa should
with its Asian rival. not just be seen as a destination for short-term
“We do not believe in making or becoming a returns, but as a partner for solid medium- and
client or satellite state,” said Rajnath Singh, “and long-term relationships.
so, when we partner with any nation, it is on the On the downside, the balance of trade
basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect. between Africa and India appears to be strongly
Forging relations comes naturally to India, as we skewed, with Africa exporting mainly raw mate-
work towards mutual economic development”. rials and natural resources (particularly oil and
A 2018 UN Report said that “India prefers gas) and India exporting finished products. Fur-
not to talk in terms of aid, but rather develop- thermore, the relationship is riddled with chal-
ment cooperation under the rubric of South- lenges: India is voicing concerns - shared by all
South solidarity”, seeking mutual benefits and the other global powers engaged with the con-
pursuing “aid for trade” schemes. tinent - over the slow pace of reform of African
This approach is in stark contrast with China’s nations, which still suffer from a lack of skilled
policies in Africa - represented by the Belt and labour and infrastructure, as well as political
Road initiative and the Forum on China-Africa instability.
Cooperation (FOCAC) - which are based on a However, the medium and long-term out-
‘donor-recipient’ relationship and have been look for economic cooperation between India
widely criticised as self-serving, financially and Africa is promising, especially in the light of
enslaving and clientelistic. Russia’s costly war in Ukraine, which could soon
The motive behind India’s political and eco- force the country to abandon its plans for Africa.
nomic engagement with Africa was reaffirmed India is already a more important trading
by Rajiv Bhatia, scholar and long-serving Indian partner for Africa - in 2019 it accounted for 5%
diplomat who, in his recently published book of the continent’s trade - and would gladly take
“India-Africa relations: Changing Horizons”, over the market share given up by Russia to fur-
described India and Africa as “two soulmates, ther raise its stake. ™
friends and partners”, a reference to their shared

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