Private jets, luxury cars and agenda: All you need to know about the India-Africa summit

The 3rd India-Africa summit begins today in New Delhi and there is a lot of hype surrounding it. There has already been a grand opening celebration of an India-Africa peace park in Delhi and Sushma Swaraj, on Sunday, also stressed the importance of India, Africa and other developing countries to cooperate closely in the two upcoming global meets — the climate change conference in Paris and the WTO meeting in Kenya. Here is an all you need to know about what to expect from the three-day summit: Record participation The summit has a record participation of all the 54 countries of the continent, around 40 of them represented by their heads of state or government. A definite win for the Centre, this is perhaps the only time all the 54 African countries are coming together outside the continent for such a meeting. Seen as a major diplomatic initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, the event has evoked international interest given its scale and the efforts by countries such as China to strengthen with Africa in their scramble for resources.

Luxury cars, hotels and Delhi police gets a lesson on politeness According to an Indian Express report , the 40 African leaders and two dozen ministers who are expected to attend the PM’s banquet will be ferried in new luxury cars, including Mercedes Benz and Toyota Hybrid, and accommodated in 10 five-star hotels. Airport authorities have also been asked to make space for at least 15 private jets used by African leaders. Security officials have been told to be “polite” and not make any remarks that will offend the visiting delegates from Africa. First time since 1983 that an international summit has been held on such a scale

It is the first time that an international summit of such scale is being held in India after the Non-Aligned Summit in 1983 — the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting the same year saw the participation of 42 countries — and the government has walked the last mile to ensure hassle-free arrangements. The two previous India-Africa summits were held in 2008 and 2011, in New Delhi and Addis Ababa but with only representative participation from African countries. Following these summits, India has extended a line of concessional credit worth $7.4 billion, which has been used for 17 projects in 41 countries in fields such as infrastructure, agriculture, industry, energy and water. Delhi is under a tight security cover [caption id=“attachment_2482612” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Reuters[/caption] A tight layer of security has been thrown over the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the main venue of the event, with key hotels of the capital city also under security cover. Agenda set with grand banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan [caption id=“attachment_2482638” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Reuters[/caption] The agenda includes a meeting of senior officials on 26 October, followed by meeting of foreign ministers on 27 October and the summit on 29 October. There will also be bilateral meetings, while President Pranab Mukherjee will host a grand banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the evening of 29 October. The summit is expected to address key challenges including food, health and environment as well as deepen cooperation on maritime security and countering terrorism. India and Africa together represent one-third of the world’s population. Both are seen to be on the cusp of the demographic dividend with vast sections of their population below the age of 35. Both India and countries in Africa face similar challenges in many areas and have a shared history of a colonial past. Infrastructure, development and clean energy: Modi clearly states areas of focus mapped out before event

Ahead of the summit, Modi has said that India’s areas of focus in Africa will continue to be human resource development, institution building, infrastructure, clean energy, agriculture, health, education and skill development. He said relations between India and African countries were not just political and economic but had very rich cultural traditions. Modi said it is a relationship with a strong emotional link which has been forged by intersecting history, centuries-old ties of kinship, commerce and culture, common struggle against colonialism, a quest for equality, dignity and justice, shared aspirations for progress and a voice in the world. He also said that people from his home state of Gujarat launched trade and commerce with Africa and he had links with the continent even before he became chief minister of the western Indian state in 2001. Modi said he has had very good relations with various personalities of Africa. The prime minister also hoped that India and Africa would continue to speak in one voice for reforming the United Nations Security Council and global financial institutions. Informal interaction held on Friday with visiting ministers from Africa [caption id=“attachment_2482604” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Twitter @indiafrica2015[/caption] Modi had on Friday held an informal interaction with visiting trade ministers from Africa. The ministers were here for the 4th India-Africa Trade Ministers’ meeting. India’s trade with Africa has grown 20 times over the past 15 years and currently stands at $70 billion. India’s investment in Africa range between $30-35 billion. Both India and Africa are seen as the bright spots of hope for the global economy. While India is the fastest growing major economy at present, Africa is also experiencing rapid growth. Agriculture is another area with significant potential as Africa is estimated to have about 60 percent of arable land in the world but produces 10 percent of the global output. Africa’s development is seen as a huge opportunity for India as its resources including oil can power India’s economic growth. This would, in turn, would create wealth and jobs in Africa.

No beef, pork at PM banquet [caption id=“attachment_2482726” align=“alignleft” width=“825”] Twitter @AishwaryaEats[/caption] The menu at the dinner for African trade ministers, hosted by Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday boasted of: two non-vegetarian dishes — fish (narial bata betki paturi) and chicken chettinad — and a range of vegetarian fare, including Gujarati kadi, reports The Indian Express . PM Modi met the journalists from Africa and posted a picture on his Facebook page [caption id=“attachment_2482640” align=“alignleft” width=“825”] Narendra Modi Facebook page[/caption] He posted on the social networking site that, “Exchanged views on India-Africa relations with African journalists attending 3rd India Africa Editors Forum. Am told over 400 media persons from Africa are coming for India-Africa Summit. This indicates the vitality of the Summit & optimism towards it. Am hopeful on achieving stronger economic ties between India & Africa. Also hopeful for deeper cooperation in energy, HRD & other areas.” With inputs from IANS