'We want Indians to have a fresh look at Africa. We want trade to increase. India's bilateral trade with Africa is around $28 billion. India's import is obviously dominated by oil from Nigeria and Sudan. We export machinery and transport equipment. The India-Africa Forum Summit will go a long way in meeting our goals.'
Africa means 53 unique countries
'Our main contention is, don't look at Africa as a country, it is 53 countries that you are talking about. Every African country has its own identity, its own problems and a distinct economy, and has its own way of looking at India. For many years, in countries like Tanzania and Kenya, Africans looked at India through the Indian Diaspora.'
'After working for six years to develop new ties with the African countries, I find that the biggest challenge for us is to change the perceptions of Indians about Africa and Africans' perceptions about India. Indians perceived Africa as a completely troubled territory. It is an absolutely wrong perception.'
'It is like saying that if Bihar is facing difficulties, you can't do business in Andhra Pradesh. When Uganda faces a crisis, Senegal has nothing to do with it. It is as simple as that.'
India is pro-Africa
'All the time we are told how well China is doing in Africa. China's role is talked about because no one talks about the actual things. Do you really think that the Indian industry was ready to do business in distant countries with obvious risk some ten years ago? I don't think so.'
'We have now become competitive and are in a position to take risks. Why should we compare ourselves with China at all? The Indian government does not subsidise us. Our industry is looking at the bottom-line. The Chinese have government-driven projects in Africa. They have the one-point agenda of fulfilling their energy requirement. India, too, needs to supplement its energy requirements with the help of African countries.'
'However, India is more engaged with the people of Africa than the governments of Africa. Why do we only talk about China's relations with African countries? There is the United States and the European Union doing big businesses there. Indians are in competition. We will have to see that Africans find ourselves competitive enough to enter into trade partnerships.'
'Africa provides 40 per cent of the US's hydro-carbons requirement. We must, once and for all, stop comparing. If China is building ports and Germany is doing the infrastructure projects, why are you not talking about Shapoorji Pallonji who is building the presidential office in Ghana?'
'Also tell me, when the countries of Africa are looking for food sufficiency is it the best thing to put up a sports stadium? India is giving priority to people-driven projects. Kirloskars are doing a huge project called the Greening of Senegal to make them food sufficient by 2010. Which Chinese or German company would do that?'
Image: One of the many enchanting tourist resorts in Ghana.
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