AFRICA - “The 21st century will be the century of Africa and Asia” says Indian Prime Minister in his opening address at the India-Africa Summit

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - Investments, businesses, energy security, climate changes, reform of the United Nations, and peacekeeping. These were the main topics of discussion in the first India-Africa Summit that began April 8 in New Delhi.
In his opening address, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke on the importance of his government’s contribution to the increase in business agreements between India and Africa, announcing that New Delhi will grant special access to the Indian market for merchandise from 50 developing countries, 34 of which are African. Among the products that will have heavy tariffs imposed on them, are: cotton, cacao, aluminum, copper, non-industrial diamonds, and brown sugar. The Indian Prime Minister has also announced the plan to duplicate African credits over the next 5 years. Through the Import-Export Bank from 2003 to 2008, India was granted about 2.15 billion dollars in credits that will go towards projects in various African nations. This sum has since become 5.4 billion dollars.
India wants to place its own technological know how in the area of Information Technology (IT) on energy production and on managing small and medium-size businesses through partnerships on both a public and private level.
In political affairs, New Delhi is now seeking support from the African countries to become member of the Permanent Security Council of the UN. A reform of this entity has been under debate for some time now, including the question of its expansion to include new members, in addition to the 5 that already form it (United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, and France). Among the countries seeking positions are India, Brazil, and South Africa, three countries that have begun a common forum in order to coordinate their policies in the area of economics, diplomacy, and strategy. The Indian Prime Minister spoke of the need for Africa and India to transform international institutions in order to create a more equitable economic system. “The 21st century will be the century of Africa and Asia,” Singh affirmed. The Asian and African countries are becoming more united in business agreements, strategies, diplomatic accords, and culturally. The Summit, promoted by New Delhi, was held in 2006 between China and Africa, and was attended by 28 African nations (see Fides 6/11/2006). The 2 Asian giants hope to expand their economic presence and political influence in Africa, showing themselves to be countries and not colonists (they themselves having suffered colonialism), who do not interfere in the internal policies of individual countries and that propose a free society.
The rhetoric about a “common future” cannot hide the obvious rush to take control of African resources, energy-based or no, on which economies in both old and new developed countries depend. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 9/4/2008; righe 36, parole 446)