Surrounded by lots of build up, the third India – Africa Summit begins today in New Delhi. The summit was followed by grand opening celebration on Sunday 25th October at peace park Delhi, will stress on Human resource Development, institution development, infrastructure, clean energy, agriculture, health, education and skill development.
#IndiaAfrica Rose Garden
to symbolise India-Africa friendship : EAM @SushmaSwaraj #IAFS pic.twitter.com/mK5yu7vxwR— India Africa Summit (@indiafrica2015) October 25, 2015
The summit has reported a record participation of all 54 countries of African continent, out of which 40 are represented by respective heads of states or government. In fact this for the first time that all the 54 countries has gathered on a single platform outside continent for such a meet. It is clearly a very big achievement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its government.
According to Indian Express, the 40 African leaders and over two dozen ministers, which are expected to attend the PM’s banquet, will be ferried in luxury cars and accommodated in 10 five-star hotels of the city. Airport authorities have been asked to make space for minimum 15 private jets, used by the African leaders. Whereas Delhi police has been asked to be “polite” and do make offending remarks to the visiting delegates.
India Africa Forum Summit: Scope of co-operation between India & Africa is immense pic.twitter.com/cEm6JgIkNd
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 25, 2015
It is indeed prestigious for India, that an International summit of such a large scale is been held in India, after the Non-Aligned Summit of 1983 – commonwealth heads of government meeting the same year witnessed participation on 42 countries and government ensured hassle free arrangements.
The India – Africa summit previously held in 2008 and 2011, in New Delhi and Addis Ababa with only representative participation from African countries. Following the previous two summits, India has extended a line of concessional credit worth USD 7.4 billion, same has been used for nearly 17 projects in across 41 countries covering fields of infrastructure, agriculture, energy, industry, power and water.
As they arrive
Welcoming #IAFS Delegates
at the Arrival Lounge of New Delhi's
T3 Terminal #IndiaAfrica pic.twitter.com/wceD62aP1I— India Africa Summit (@indiafrica2015) October 22, 2015
The schedule of summit includes a meeting of officials on 26th October, followed meeting of foreign ministers on 27th October and the summit on 29th October. It will also include bilateral meeting, whereas President Pranab Mukherjee will host a grand banquet at Rashtrapati Bhawan on final day of summit.
The summit plans to address key challenges of food, health and environment along with cooperation on marine security and countering terrorism.
The much debated beef also found space in India – Africa Summit, where after informal interaction between Narendra Modi and African trade delegates, dinner was hosted by Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday served of: two non-vegetarian dishes – prepared with Fish and Chicken along with range on vegetarian cuisines, which included Gujarati ‘kadi’ says Indian Express’s Fridays edition.
