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| India-Pakistan |
| India offers $5bn to Africa, keen to boost ties |
| 2011-05-25 |
| India stepped up its push to deepen its economic ties with Africa and emerge from the shadow of rival China by offering $5 billion to help the continent rich with minerals and commodities. At an address to an India-Africa summit in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh trumpeted his country's historical ties with Africa in an attempt to catch-up with Beijing's growing influence on the continent. "There is a new economic growth story emerging from Africa. Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth pole of the world," Singh said. "The India-Africa partnership is unique and owes its origins to history and our common struggle against colonialism, apartheid, poverty, disease, illiteracy and hunger." Singh, who is on a six-day trip to Africa which began on Monday, is pledging development support in exchange for trade agreements to fuel growth in India's resource-intensive economy, and boost the presence of Asia's third-largest economy which lags China in the world's poorest continent. "We will offer 5 billion US dollars for the next three years under lines of credit to help Africa achieve its development goals," he said in a speech in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. Singh said India would offer an additional $700 million for new institutions and training programmes, a further $300 million for a new Ethiopia-Djibouti railway line and $2 million to fund the African Union's peacekeeping force in Somalia. Bypass the Eritreans? I like that already... Rival emerging economies India and China are scouring the globe to secure energy resources, minerals and food. Both are keen to stress to African nations that they are more than just trade partners and want to help the continent develop. Both nations are also trying to extend their influence in Africa as they emerge as economic powers and appear keener to flex their diplomatic muscle. India is trying to increase it presence on the continent as well as get African support for its bid for a permanent place on the UN Security Council, as the body is reformed to include emerging powers and developing nations. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #2 one other thing: train line ethiopia to djibouti is very interesting. Ethiopia exports fresh produce and wants to export electricity to the french military enclave. Djibouti is an unpleasant little outpost, identical to Somalia in every way but for the french presence it would be. the US is building a massive base there. it's the one little port along the gulf of aden where foreign navies can stop and refuel other than Oman. It's bordered by Eritrea (super dodgy) on the coast to the west/north and Somalia to the east. Ethiopia, totally landlocked (as like idiots they gave up their one sea port in negotiations a while back) is to the south but rich in fertile land and rainfall don't give any charity money to africa ever africa is RICH it's just poorly distributed. next famine to hit, save your pennies, and let the starving people riot and change their governments who are the problem. |
| Posted by: anon1 2011-05-25 10:24 |
| #1 Africa has many Indians living within its various countries at least in the south and east. The indians are considered the "jews" of africa. THey run the businesses often. The internet cafes, the takeaway shops , the importers/exporters are often run by Indians As a result, the blacks can be resentful and dislike the Indians. Lots of indian businesses eg in Dar es Salaam,Tanzania; Nairobi, Kenya etc. They are very brave and run small shipping services to and from somalia, running charcoal and sacks of grain. they are often taken hostage by pirates, adn are beaten, starved and treated poorly compared to other foreign nationals who are not beaten Indians have been the businessmen of Africa for centuries. It remains to be seen how the blacks react to the Chinese, relative newcomers. White africans (eg: kenya, namibia) tend to like Indians. |
| Posted by: anon1 2011-05-25 10:19 |