[ad_1]
This is his verbatim speech
I am deeply honored by the invitation to address this august assembly. I had the same privilege in other parliaments. This is however special. This honor came to a prime minister of India for the first time. This is a great honor for the 1.25 billion people in India.
The history of the struggle for freedom of India is closely related to Africa. It's not just the 21 years that Gandhi has spent in Africa, or the first non-cooperation movement that he's led. For India, the moral principles of the independence movement or the peaceful means of pursuing it were not only confined to the borders of India or the future of the Indians.
It was a universal quest for freedom, dignity, equality and opportunity for every human being. Nowhere did it apply in Africa alone.
Twenty years before our independence, the leaders of our National Movement had linked India's struggle for freedom to the struggle against colonial rule in the world, particularly in Africa. Even as India stood on the threshold of independence, the fate of Africa was not far from our minds.
Mahatma Gandhi firmly believed that the freedom of India would remain incomplete as long as Africa remained in slavery. Free India has not forgotten his words. India has continued Afro-Asian solidarity in Bandung. We remained staunchly opposed to apartheid in South Africa
We took strong and bold stances in ancient Rhodesia – which is now known as Zimbabwe, in Guinea Bassau, Angola and in Namibia. Gandhi's peaceful resistance has inspired leaders like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Albert Luthuli, Julius Nyrere and Kwame Nkrumah
History is witness to the success of ancient wisdom of India and India. Africa and peaceful resistance. Some of the most profound changes in Africa have come through Gandhian methods. India's principled support to Africa's liberation movements has often come at a cost to the trade of our nation. But, nothing has counted in relation to the freedom of Africa.
Our economic and international partnerships over the past seven decades have been motivated as much by economic impulse as by moral principles and emotional bonds. We have sought fair and equitable access to markets and resources.
We fought together to make development the foundation of world trade. And, we have worked to diversify the economic partnership between the countries of the South. Our doctors and teachers went to Africa not only to seek professional opportunities, but in solidarity with a common cause of development as free nations.
As President Museveni said at the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit in Delhi in 2015. We fought against colonial rule together. Let's fight together for mutual prosperity. "Excellencies,
Today, India and Africa are on the threshold of a promising future: as confident, safe, young, innovative and dynamic people.
Uganda is an example of Africa on the move, increasing gender parity, improving education and health standards, and improving the quality of life in Africa. The expansion of infrastructure and connectivity.This is a region with increasing exchanges and investments.We are witnessing an upsurge in innovation.In India, we are looking forward to every African success, thanks to our deep friendship ties.
India is proud to be the partner of Africa. And Uganda is at the center of our commitment to the mainland.Yesterday I announced two lines of credit for Uganda
The first, of 141 million US dollars for power lines. past, we will continue to support the aspirations of the Ugandan people: agriculture and health, education and training, infrastructure and energy, capacity building. government and defense training. I congratulate President Museveni and this House for their decision to join the International Solar Alliance.
As in Uganda, we deepened our partnership and our commitment across the vast expanse of Africa. Over the last four years, our President, Vice President and myself have visited no less than 25 countries in Africa. Our ministers have covered virtually all African nations.
We had the honor of hosting the 54 countries – more than 40 at the level of Heads of State and Government – at the Third Africa-India Forum Summit in October 2015. [19659003] We have also been privileged to host many African leaders for the inaugural summit of the International Solar Alliance. Apart from all this, 32 heads of state or government of Africa have visited India in the past four years.
My native country, Gujarat, was proud to host the first meeting of the African Development Bank in India last year. And we are also opening 18 new embassies in Africa.
Our development partnership currently includes the implementation of 180 lines of credit worth $ 11 billion in more than 40 African countries
. a concessional credit line of US $ 10 billion and US $ 600 million in grant assistance. Every year, more than 8,000 young Africans are trained in a diverse set of programs. As always, our efforts will be determined by your priorities.
Indian companies have invested more than 54 billion US dollars in Africa. Our trade with Africa now exceeds 62 billion US dollars. That's more than 21% more than the year before.
Exports from Africa to India are increasing. In addition, our economic ties are increasingly driven by new partnerships for innovation in the digital economy. The pan-African electronic network connects 48 African countries to India and to each other.
It can become the new backbone of digital innovation in Africa. With many coastal nations, our partnership is now increasingly looking to harness the benefits of the blue economy in a sustainable way. And, India's medicines have turned the tide on diseases that were once a threat to Africa's future. They also continue to make health care affordable and accessible to many. As we work together for prosperity, we are united for peace. Indian soldiers served in peacekeepers so that African children could envision a future of peace.
We are proud of the work of Indian peacekeepers in over a dozen peacekeeping missions in Africa. In all UN peacekeeping missions around the world, 163 Indians have made the ultimate sacrifice. It is the highest number of all countries.
Nearly 70% of them embraced martyrdom in Africa. Today, more than 6,000 Indians serve in five peacekeeping operations in Africa. Indian women have established a milestone with the first all-female United Nations police unit in Liberia.
Our defense and security cooperation grows with the nations of Africa, as we work together to counter terrorism and piracy. . India's engagement with Africa will continue to be guided by 10 principles.
First, Africa will be at the top of our priorities. We will continue to intensify and deepen our engagement with Africa. As we have shown, he will be supported and steady.
Secondly, our development partnership will be guided by your priorities. This will be on terms that will be comfortable for you, that will unlock your potential and not limit your future. We rely on African talent and skills. We will build as much local capacity and create as many local opportunities as possible.
Third, we will keep our markets open and make it easier and more attractive to trade with India. We will support our industry to invest in Africa.
Four, we will harness India's experience with the digital revolution to support the development of Africa; improve the delivery of public services; extend education and health; disseminate digital literacy; expand financial inclusion; It will not only be our partnership to advance the UN's sustainable development goals, but also to equip young people in Africa for their place in the digital age.
Five, Africa has 60% of the world's arable land, but produces only 10 percent of world production. We will work with you to improve agriculture in Africa.
Sixth, our partnership will tackle the challenges of climate change. We will work with Africa to ensure a fair international climate order; preserve our biodiversity; and, adopt clean and efficient sources of energy.
Seventh, we will strengthen our cooperation and our mutual capabilities in the fight against terrorism and extremism; keep our cyberspace safe and secure; and, supporting the UN in the advancement and maintenance of peace.
Eighth, we will work with African nations to keep the oceans open and free for the benefit of all nations. The world needs cooperation and not competition on the eastern shores of Africa and the eastern Indian Ocean. This is why the Indian vision of Indian Ocean security is cooperative and inclusive, rooted in security and growth for all in the region.
Nine, and this is especially important to me: as global engagement in Africa increases, we must all work together, so that Africa does not turn into a theater of rival ambitions but become a nursery for the aspirations of African youth.
Ten, Just as India and Africa fought colonial rule together, we will work together for a just representative and democratic world order that has a voice and a role for the third of the world. Humanity living in Africa and India. India's own quest for reforms in global institutions is incomplete without an equal place for Africa.
This will be a key objective of our foreign policy.
Source link
