6 reasons why the Indo-Africa Forum Summit is more important than you would imagine

“This is a meeting of dreams of one third of the humanity under one roof,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the biggest gathering of foreign dignitaries in New Delhi since 1983 Non-Aligned Summit as the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit kicked off at Indira Gandhi stadium on Thursday.

During his inaugural address, he outlined areas of emerging partnership between the two countries and specific areas of cooperation and roadmap to achieve it. We bring you key highlights from PM Narendra Modi’s speech at the ceremony:

India and Africa to stand together in pitching for UN reforms

PM called for unity for pushing reforms in international institutions like the UN Security Council. He said “This is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations. Our institutions cannot be representative of our world if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of UN members, or the world’s largest democracy with one-sixth of humanity. That is why India and Africa must speak in one voice for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council.” Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was seen taking a similar stand as Modi. Stating that African nations have been treated as “underdogs” and looked down upon as “dwarfs” by the permanent members of UNSC, Mugabe said reform of the global body should be carried out in such a way that it becomes “United Equal Nations”. “We are saying let us amend charter of UN. There should be two seats for African countries in the reformed Security Council and one for India. The South African President Jacob Zuma, who is part of G-4 grouping, also strongly backed India’s candidature for the UNSC seat.

Efforts on combating Climate change

"Effort should be that snow on Kilimanjaro does not disappear, the glacier that feeds the River Ganga does not retreat," Modi aspired to light up lives of people and power their future. He called for cooperation between India and Africa to combat climate change even as he said he wants to see "a genuine global public partnership that makes clean energy affordable, provides finance and technology to developing countries to access it; and the means to adapt to the impact of climate change."

Technology and innovation:

Citing how the use of mobile and digital technology like mobile banking of M-Pesa, the healthcare innovation of MedAfrica, the agriculture innovation of AgriManagr and Kilimo Salama are transforming lives in Africa, Modi said technology will be a strong foundation of the partnership between India and Africa considering Africa has now joined the global mainstream of innovation.

India to extend a new $10 billion line of credit

In addition to the ongoing credit programme, Modi promised to offer concessional credit of $10 billion over the next five years in a bid to add strength to the partnership. At the India-Africa Forum Summit, he outlined India’s vision to assist Africa with infrastructure building from “Cairo to Cape Town, Marrakesh to Mombassa”. He also pledged an assistance of $600 million to the continent, which includes 50,000 scholarships for African students in India, an India-Africa Development Fund of $100 million and an India-Africa Health Fund of $10 million. India will also support the expansion of the Pan Africa E-Network and institutions of skilling, training and learning across Africa.

Joint efforts for a solar future and global trading regime
Modi said: "Our goal is to make solar energy an integral part of our life and reach it to the most unconnected villages and communities." India has proposed to launch in Paris on 30 November at the time of COP-21 meeting. He invited African nations to join an alliance of solar-rich countries. He also asked Africa to seek a global trading regime along with India that serves the development goals and improves the trade prospects of both the regions.

India to help Africa in developing agriculture:

"Africa has 60 percent of the world's arable land reserves and just 10 percent of the global output. India will help to develop Africa's agriculture sector that can drive the continent's march to prosperity and also support global food security,” Modi said, while adding that India has noted Africa’s strong measures that are radically improving healthcare, education and agriculture. “Primary school enrollment in Africa now exceeds 90 percent," he said.

(Image credit: PM's Facebook page)