'This Forum will bring a focus to the thought processes which are going in various directions. The Government of India understands that if you don't look at Africa now, then truly, it will be too late.'
'My only exposure to Africa had been through National Geographic. It was an exciting place for me, full of wild life, a land of inherent beauty and culture, exotic landscapes and topography. I wasn't aware of the extent of economic relations between us but I knew that it was very low.'
'Historically, of course, Africans know Gandhi-ji and we know about Nelson Mandela, but as time passed by that awareness was fading in the '80s and '90s.'
'My first visit to Africa was in 2002 -- to Ethiopia, Nigeria and Ghana -- when I led a CII delegation. India had a traditional bond with many African countries like South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda but otherwise there was hardly any exposure of Africans to India.'
'Ethiopia was an exception where they were exposed to Indian teachers and Indian films. Taxi drivers sang songs from old Hindi films. They were familiar with Namaste and such other Hindi words. In 2002, I could see that they still liked Raj Kapoor.'
'Ethiopia is a steady partner of India but in most African countries, the India of pre-1991 was known and not the India of post-information technology boom. Because of the Indian Diaspora some of the African countries had some idea of the real India, but generally they thought of India in a similar way as we think of Africa.'
'In a country like Nigeria where Indian traders were already present, India was merely a country in Asia. They didn't consider India for joint ventures and enduring partnerships.'
''Are you sure you want to take me to Africa?' was the reaction from our side. It was a struggle for us to enroll people for the business delegation. When we went to Ghana in 2002 it was an entirely a new feeling of understanding a nation.'
'In Ghana a businessman who was with us said, “Oh my God! This is the answer to a number of new opportunities India is looking for.”'
'K Laxman Reddy of KLR Rigs from Hyderabad was with us in the delegation. They manufacture water rigs, but the government had banned his company from drilling water locally so he was looking for new opportunities. In Nigeria, he found rigs in oilfields that needed repairs. The Western suppliers had gone away and the Nigerians were stuck. KLR took over the job and repaired them. Now, they have developed a big business in Nigeria and Ghana.'
'The Kirloskars were already present in Egypt. But they did not know enough about the West- or the East-African markets. In Ghana, they have a big business of urban water management and irrigation projects. Today they have a huge set-up in Ghana. In Nigeria, Ranbaxy has a plant: pharmaceutical companies have found a footing there.'
Image: Shipra Tripathi with a CII delgation.
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