Africa is now an economically happening case. Investments are coming from different corners of the world, viz China, US, Russia, France and India; to name few. Indian presence in the continent can be traced back to centuries. Significantly, it is growing of late. A recent cover story of Economist had sketched how the continent is transforming economically, politically and socially. India was named as the second largest investor after China in 2018. Not only that, India has set up the maximum number of embassies/ high commissions in recent times in the continent to augment both diplomatic and economic engagement with the region, especially where green shoots of development are visible. The visit of both the President of India Sh. Ramnath Kovind and Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi in recent days to various countries in Africa has given a new aura, purpose and direction to the India-Africa policy. Not to fall behind, increasing number of Indian corporations are setting up their bases in the continent in various segments including manufacturing, IT, healthcare education, agriculture and the list is expanding.
Amongst Indian business entities, which have focused on Africa is Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL). Notably, India’s presence in telecommunications in Africa is deep and broad-based. For instance, India’s Airtel has operations in some of the African countries. Recently, Airtel Nigeria stocks were listed in the Lagos Stock exchange. Many analysts feel that telecommunications will be a major sector where Indian presence will grow in the future. Sheila Sudhakaran, editor, www.trendsnafrica.com & Africa4U caught up with TCIL’s Director (Technical) Kamendra Kumar to seek his opinion about the future of India-Africa economic engagement, particularly in the skill development sector including in ICT, the ways and means to embellish that and a host of other issues. Excerpts of his interview are given below.
Sheila: How do you assess the present level of India-Africa economic engagement?
Kamendra Kumar: I feel there is an unprecedented momentum in India’s engagement with the African region in the recent days. Prime Minister NarendraModiji is giving special importance to bonding both regions. In the last five years or so, the number of high-level engagements in both regions has gone up. Now, I feel Africa is discussed in the board rooms of most of the Indian companies to assess the potential market and to strategize ways to enter that market. This is an indication of the importance being assigned by the top political apparatus in India and Africa, which is permeating down to the corporate sector now.
Sheila: When do you think a transformation has taken place in India’s Africa centric policy?
K.K: I feel 2015 was a watershed year when India held the India-Africa Forum Summit. A pan-Africa vision has panned out since then. Our past policy was to focus on a few countries, where we had traditional business ties. Now, the strategy is to see Africa in a holistic manner, without losing sight of the synergy with the individual countries, which may have differing development perspectives. That policy holds good in the light of the emerging AFCATA, which will be the largest trading bloc in the world. As the countries in Africa are knocking off their trade barriers, it stands to reason that India should mould a dual policy of an integrated approach and a country -specific strategy.
How does TCIL evolve its Africa policy?
Before responding to that question, let me explain the good fortune I had in accompanying President of India, Sh. Ram NathKovindJi in a delegation to three West African countries, viz. Benin, Gambia and Guinea. This is the highest level of visit India has ever had to these countries. On behalf of the TCIL, I had signed MOUs of support with the governments of Benin and Guinea. TCIL under the direction of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, has launched the second phase of the PAN Africa e-Network project – e-VidyaBharati (tele-education) and e-ArogyaBharati (tele-medicine) Network Project (e-VBAB). This project aims to provide 5 years of free tele-education to 4000 students and free medical consultancy to 1000 doctors/nurses/paramedics. During the visit of the President of India, MOUs were signed with Benin and Guinea for involvement of TCIL in these projects. Further, the project will use the latest technology tools to provide education to African youth.
Sheila: Why Benin and Guinea?
KK: We are not confining ourselves to both countries. We have a pan-Africa agenda. Since you have asked me why we give focus to these two countries, let me take you to our activities in Africa, including the two countries that you have specified. Benin is one of India’s key trading partners in West Africa. It is one of the fastest-growing economies in the region. In the case of Guinea, India has recently re-opened its diplomatic mission and would work very closely with the governments there in areas including skill development. Another country is Gambia. New Delhi has extended several lines of credit to Gambia, including $6.7 million in 2006 for a tractor assembly plant and approximately $27 million for construction of the National Assembly Building Complex that was inaugurated in October 2014. India has also trained senior Gambian officials in its officer training academies in India. As a part of its pan-Africa vision, New Delhi has opened 18 new missions in Africa to shore up its engagement with the continent. TCIL will have footprints in all these countries.
Sheila: Recently, there was a meeting between Africa and India to work out matters relating to higher education and skill development. What are the takeaways of TCIL from that meeting?
KK: Yes, there was a meeting held on 29th August at New Delhi. We have signed MOUs with various countries, namely Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Malawi and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. TCIL is also in talks with MCIT (Ministry of Communications and IT) Egypt, to develop skill based ‘Experience Centres’ in India which will encourage Indian youth to experiment with new and emerging technologies. TCIL’s India Cyber Academy will provide cyber security training to Egyptian youth and policy makers to combat the challenges posed by cyber-crime.
Sheila: Why only in skill development?
KK: Of course, skill development is our forte. That does not mean that we are glued to that only. We are also there in solar energy. India is the mover and shaker of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which has a huge potential to pick up. Of the 48 countries which have signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement, 25 countries are from the African continent. Our effort will be to follow up the decisions at the Alliance meeting and to work with the African countries to realize their potentials in the domain. Most of the African countries are power deficit. They have to tap alternative sources of energy, which is also clean energy, to supplement their power requirements. Also, most of the countries enjoy good sunshine, a situation that is ideal for tapping solar energy.
Sheila: What are your other Plans for Africa?
KK: As I have said earlier, the Indian government has approved the opening of 18 new Indian Missions in Africa between 2018-2021 to provide impetus to trade and economy, taking the number of Resident Indian Missions in Africa from 29 to 47. The first of these resident missions opened in Rwanda in July 2018. TCIL was an integral member of the Indian Africa ICT Expo at Kigali in Rwanda held on 5-6 August this year. The then CMD TCIL, Mr. A Seshagiri Rao, met with the Prime Minister of Rwanda, Hon’bleDr.ÉdouardNgirente, and the ICT Minister of Rwanda, Ms. Paula Ingabire and promised support on cyber security training, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IOT) and connectivity for rural areas. Mr Rao also met with the Prime Ministers of Malawi and Zimbabwe during the expo and confirmed extending support to both the countries in education and healthcare, rural connectivity and digital post offices.
