India-Africa summit opens in New Delhi

Members of the delegation from West African country of Guinea descend from an adorned golf cart at the venue for a meeting of senior officials at the India-Africa Forum Summit yesterday.Agencies/New DelhiExpanding trade ties, particularly in the energy sector, topped the agenda as Indian and African leaders kicked off their largest-ever summit in New Delhi yesterday. Fifty-four countries, including more than 40 African heads of state, were gathered for the India-Africa Forum Summit, aimed at boosting political, economic and trade ties. Bilateral trade between India and Africa amounts to around $70bn a year. The summit is likely to see the announcement of expanded trade targets and broader economic linkages, officials said. Energy will feature prominently in the talks. India imports 70% of its oil, mostly from the Middle East, and is looking to diversify its energy sources. Indian diplomats said other areas of discussion include maritime security and counter-terrorism co-operation in the backdrop of a growing arc of terrorism from Nigeria to Somalia. India and African countries have also been demanding a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, calling for reforms in the world body to reflect contemporary realities. This year’s summit is much larger than the 2008 and 2011 versions, which featured only 15 African countries. Foreign ministers from the countries planned to meet today, followed by the main summit among leaders on Thursday. Ahead of the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the summit would mark the beginning of a “new era of mutual partnership.” Modi is seeking to challenge China’s dominance on a continent that is blessed with vast natural resources and has the world’s fastest-growing population. New Delhi wants to project its soft power and historical ties to Africa, in contrast to China’s focus on resource extraction and capital investment that has sparked a backlash in some countries against Beijing’s mercantilist expansion. Modi, self-styled chief salesman of a “Make in India” export drive, wants to capitalise on an economic slowdown in China to highlight India as an alternative partner for trade and investment.