MENA (12 May 2008)
Ambassador of India to Egypt stresses the deeply-rooted relations of cooperation between his country and the African Continent
Cairo- May 11, 2008
Ambassador of India to Egypt H. E. Mr. A. Gopinathan stressed the deeply-rooted relations between his country and the African nations in the political, economic and commercial fields as well as in the field of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).
The Indian Ambassador gave these statements during his interaction today (Sunday) with the journalists participating in the 31st training course for African journalists in Cairo. The function was also attended by the Ambassador of South Africa to Egypt Mrs. Santo Kodgo.
The Indian Ambassador added that India and Africa are partners in the struggle against abject poverty and in quest for development. He indicated that the two sides shared experiences since long time in all walks of life.
Mr. A. Gopinathan indicated that the 1st India-Africa Summit, which was hosted by the Indian capital, New Delhi last month, came up with two important documents: The Delhi Declaration and Framework for Cooperation. He added that 14 African countries, including Egypt, took part in the summit.
He emphasized that the Delhi Declaration stressed the necessity of sharing India's economic progress with Africa in order to achieve self-reliance, enhance partnership and advocate world peace.
He further added that the Delhi Declaration is considered a new framework for bilateral cooperation and promotion of partnership between the two sides in different fields. He added that this partnership is based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and understanding.
"The Framework for Cooperation, which was issued at the end of the India-Africa Summit focused on the necessity to enhance economic, agricultural, commercial and investment cooperation between India and the African counties", Ambassador of India to Egypt Mr. A. Gopinathan said.
The Indian Ambassador called on the African countries to focus more on the development of human capabilities, promotion of vocational education and support of SMEs in order to be able to increase productivity and compete in the international markets.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation between private sectors in both India and the African countries to achieve the aspired for economic development. He underscored that the private sector plays a key role in today's community.
On her part, the Ambassador of South Africa described cooperation ties between India and Africa as "ancient and historical", as India supported national liberation movements in many African countries. She indicated that India cooperates with a number of regional organizations in Africa, on top of which comes the OAU, to promote developmental projects in the African Continent.
The South African Ambassador praised the political relations between India and Africa and the coordination efforts between them towards the support of peace and stability everywhere. She added that India has taken several "vital" steps to support many African countries so that they can establish small enterprises, especially in the field of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).
She pinpointed the necessity that the two sides should adopt a certain mechanism to share experience in the field of ICT so that the African Continent can benefit from the Indian experience in this field.
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