1 April 2024 : Daily Answer Writing
Q1) A multi-faceted relationship between India and Africa has the potential to reinvigorate and redefine the legacy of Asia-Africa solidarity as an answer to the challenges of the contemporary world. Comment. (250 Words/15 Marks)
ANSWER
India-Africa ties are rooted deeply in the common history and are bound by a shared destiny. The multi-faceted relationship between India and Africa can be seen from:
- Partnership between India and Africa is vital to reinvigorate the institutions of global governance.
E.g., India and Africa complement each other’s efforts for the reforms of UNSC.
- Africa is integral to India’s vision for a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
E.g., safety and security of East African countries strategically located in Indian Ocean region; development of blue economy; HADR efforts (operation Sahayata in Mozambique, operation Vanilla in Madagascar).
- India and Africa have tremendous untapped potential to boost trade, commerce, and connectivity between the two regions.
E.g., AAGC; leveraging potential of AfCFTA etc.
- The presence of rich demography uniquely places India and Africa to provide a skilled workforce to the world; further, presence of rich Indian diaspora in Africa has enhanced India’s stake in the stability of the region
E.g., ICCR Africa Scholarships Scheme; initiatives to skill the youth; Operation Kaveri to bring back stranded Indians.
- Investments in rich mineral resources of Africa can enhance the paradigm of strategic autonomy for India.
E.g., rich resources of mineral oil; critical mineral reserves etc.
- India-Africa ties are a beacon of sustainable/inclusive global growth:
- India and Africa an engage proactively towards clean energy transition.
E.g., adoption of ISA (Africa’s potential for solar energy); development of Green Hydrogen; promotion of EV vehicles.
- Common needs and aspirations can aid India and Africa to present a joint front at global climate talks.
E.g., Loss and Damage Fund; transfer of technology to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
- Ties between India and Africa can bolster food security alongside redefining climate smart agriculture.
E.g., India-Africa international Millet Conference at Kenya.
- Potential of Indian generic medicines to improve developmental indicators in African continent.
India-Africa ties can redefine Asia-Africa solidarity as an answer to contemporary challenges as:
- Creating a more inclusive and just narrative around the climate change talks promoting equity, differential responsibility, and transparency in climate financing mechanisms.
- Reinvigorating the need to remove nuclear apartheid and parallelly promoting nonproliferation and checking arms race.
- Creating a robust global rules-based order.
E.g., increasing the stake of African countries in institutions of global governance.
- Building resilient supply chains checking hegemony of unilateral actors.
E.g., enhanced connectivity (secure SLOC); supply of critical minerals.
- Building a sustainable framework of investment and growth as an antidote to debt-trap diplomacy.
- Building cooperation for achieving SDGs in a way that the most marginalized are the one most benefited.
India and Africa have a collective mandate to reinvigorate the ties between Asia and Africa and provide a sustainable and inclusive approach to tackle the contemporary challenges being faced by the world.
