Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides)- Yesterday, 14 October the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, arrived in the Nigerian capital Abuja to intensify economic relations between Nigeria e India especially in the field of energy.
India and Nigeria established diplomatic relations in 1958, two years before Nigerian gained independence from Britain. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth and the Movement of Non Aligned countries. In recent years trade between the two countries has grown reaching in 2006 7.9 billion dollars. In the next few years trade is expected to reach 10 billion dollars.
Before the visit India's foreign minister had this to say to local press about relations between the two countries: “Indian and Nigerian societies are both multi-religious, multiethnic, multi-lingual and pluralist. Both are democracies. Nigeria is India's first trading partner in Africa and one of India's principal suppliers of oil. Several private and public Indian companies operate in
Nigeria, including Indian oil companies. India has a long relationship with Nigeria in the field of defence and we are involved in training Nigerian defence personnel and creation of structures for military training”.
After visiting Nigeria, the Indian premier will go to South Africa for the second IBSA Summit (India, Brazil and South Africa, see Fides 4/10/2007). The countries will discuss the reform of the United Nations, Doha talks on international trade, poverty and underdevelopment, disarmament and energy issues.
IBSA countries are increasingly interested in bio-fuel and the use of nuclear energy. South Africa is the only African country with nuclear plants which produce electricity and it destroyed its small nuclear arsenal created in the days of apartheid: it is one for the few examples of unilateral nuclear disarmament. Brazil has undertaken an ambition programme to re-launch nuclear energy, while India, which has a nuclear arsenal, is committed to furthering the peaceful development of the atom and to fight proliferation of nuclear technology which can be used for military programmes.
The three countries intend to intensify three-sided trade and this is why there are several businessmen in the government delegations: 60 from Brazil, 100 from India and 100 from South Africa. IBSA has created a fund to help the countries most in need Africa, Asia and Latin America. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/10/2007 righe 33 parole 442)
