The publication of two important books on India-Africa relations in early 2022 is a striking event. The authors are Foreign Service Africanists with multiple assignments on the Continent. They complement each other rather well.
Rajiv Bhatia addresses the wide historical canvas, and a range of political and other connections. His key message: ‘Africa’s leadership and elites need to shoulder the primary responsibility… But the world too has a special responsibility to assist Africa… Mutuality of interest (for India) dictates a deeper partnership’ (p. 11).
Sketching the historic India-Africa links, the author notes that by 2002 there were 2.6 million Indians in Africa. They were mainly descendants of indentured labour taken in colonial times, and were for the great part African citizens or held other nationalities. The number of recent migrants is smaller, mainly professionals and businessmen. Chapters three, four, five—‘Africa, Dancing with Global Actors’, ‘Africa-China Tango’ and ‘‘India-Africa Engagement in the 21st Century’ examine how world powers engaged with Africa, followed by a close study of the actions of China and India. Was there really a ‘scramble’ for the Continent? Africa’s mineral, forestry, other resources, actual and potential, ought to have produced a stronger push in our times. Clearly, China has been driven by a strategy and long-term vision, after the series of nine China-Africa ‘FOCAC’ conferences, commencing October 2000. India’s efforts, in the shape of three India-Africa Summits between 2008 and 2015, have been persistent, but not quite comparable, partly owing to India’s lower stock of investable funds, besides a less-than-fulsome response from Indian business. Closely examining India-Africa actions of 2000-19, the author concludes that while political relations were ‘closer and warmer’, both the economic pillar and people-to-people ties needed strengthening, more attention. He concludes that close ties should translate into economic and other mutually beneficial activities.
A block of four chapters—‘Continental Dimensions’, ‘Regional Dimensions’, ‘Bilateral Aspects’, ‘Sociocultural and People -related Bonds’—looks at the Africa-India bilateral dimension in detail, with the final two chapters providing the conclusion. My takeaway—1)Trade growth took place in the period 2000 to 2011, with exports rising from $2.3 billion to $24 billion, but after a peak of $31 billion in 2014, they stagnated, part of the wider story of Indian merchandise exports in that decade. The flow of Indian FDI also slowed. 2) The 3rd India-Africa Summit in New Delhi in October 2015 drew 41 of the Continent’s 54 leaders, heads of state or government, with announcements ($10B in concessional credits, $600 million in grants, 10,000 ITEC scholarships per year, duty free access for African exports). But it did not address the core issue of slow project implementation. 3) The creation of the ‘Development Partnership Administration’ in 2012, as MEA’s single agency for aid projects has improved outcomes. The 2018 decision to expand the number of Indian embassies from 29 to 46, under implementation, underscores a strong commitment.
Despite good intentions, our project delivery system falters. Neither high-level visits, nor project announcements suffice in themselves, without ground actions. As for scholarships and technical cooperation fellowships for Africans, our terms are usually not sufficiently attractive. Implementation remains the bugbear.
Bhatia’s approach is strongly analytical. He looks at current events in a historical context. He writes, for instance, about NEPAD and APRM, both of which are purely African actions aimed at voluntary, discreet actions for improving domestic governance in fellow-African states, through persuasion. They seldom attract international attention. Overall, this book provides a deep dive into India’s connections with Africa across a wide spectrum. The statistical data is a key attraction of the book. He gently points to the problem areas, without making a mountain of this. The overall tone is positive.
Gurjit Singh’s Harambee Factor, produced in collaboration with the Indian Council of World Affairs, is focused on economic and developmental cooperation. The longer of the two works, it mostly eschews comparison with China or Africa’s other partners. Consider the new issues he brings to the table.
In the past 15 years Africa’s GDP has tripled. Its current population of 1.2 billion may grow to 2.5 billion in 2050 (though recent evidence suggests that growth may slow dramatically; see India’s 2021 sample survey reports on the drop in the ‘total fertility rate’).
Singh has used his own surveys of businessmen and policy makers in India and Africa to bolster his thesis. The African Union played a key role in the first 2008 India Africa summit, under the Banjul formula, which limited participation to 15 states. African ambassadors in Delhi wanted a larger role, but were frozen out by their own colleagues at the AU headquarters. The African Union operates as an additional layer for initial decisions on projects and location, partly on the basis of regional weightage, balancing opportunities for all. This can lead to selection of unsuitable locations, loss of momentum for the project, or even low interest from the receiving state. It becomes a classic tension between the bilateral and the group or regional process. The project recipient may not have the capacity for the project. For a civil aviation academy, Indian experts felt that the designated location simply did not have the needed infrastructure. A key issue: is it better for India to mainly work bilaterally? One is left with the impression that it is the bilateral track that works best, even while the AU is vital, especially for our multilateral objectives.
Capacity building has always been a strong Indian pillar, i.e., training in India, via the successful ITEC programme dating to 1964, plus institution-building in Africa. First, in 2015 the number of training places offered to Africa was raised to 10,000, but there are difficulties in filling these up. The financial terms appear increasingly unattractive. Over the years, they have improved, but not to a sufficient degree. Second, institution-building in Africa. This has involved setting up vocational training institutes, as well as human settlement institutes, focused on low-cost housing. Third, the CV Raman Fellowships in science and technology have become a very successful programme that has reached out to some 200 PhD and Masters researchers. A point not covered: new generations of Indian researchers, through their field visits to African countries, are now building new epistemic communities of shared learning.This is long-term Indian strength.
Project execution remains a bugbear for development aid the world over. Delays are built into both ends of the transaction. African challenges in this area are well documented. At the Indian end, the executing ministry often gets blocked in its internal project processing, despite having carried out that same procedure when the project was initially approved.
The lines of credit extended by India have helped in promoting Indian projects in Africa, but our procedures become a limiting factor. The net result is a mix of success stories and setbacks, and it seems impossible to speed-up our procedures. Often, the biggest Indian players are absent from the projects. On the flipside, agile newcomers are willing to invest effort and time into building local connections across Africa to secure projects. The story of FDI outflows from India into Africa is one of mixed success, but clearly many Indian companies are averse to the effort and risks involved. Tatas, L&T and ONGC and some pharma groups are among the exceptions. We thus end up with the half-full glass; much more needs to be done to unify our Africa connections for mutually beneficial results. Yet, ‘we see the role of the Indian private sector as adventurous, using simple business practises and frugal methods’ (p. 355).
Another significant conclusion is that the process of managing aid flows remains complicated despite efforts by the Development Partnership Administration, for a ‘whole of government’ actions. Often, functional ministries apply the same set of financial regulations in different ways, even though they are all part of the unified system, through what is called in ministries ‘associated finance’, run entirely by the Finance Ministry.
Singh’s exhaustive analysis leads to important conclusions in his final two chapters. First, Indian lines of credit (LoCs) have helped with FDI flows and project exports in countries like Mozambique, but equally countries that don’t qualify, like South Africa, Egypt and Morocco have also been major FDI destinations. Second, exports show a clear link with LoCs, and India has done well in this area across much of Africa. Third, technical training remains vital to extending India’s influence. But institution building has not been as successful as intended. Fourth, in contrast, social organizations have produced important popular impact, but do not show large economic results. Finally, the Indian private sector is now playing a bigger role in Africa than ever before. It faces problems, but we also see its determination to overcome challenges. The author concludes with recommending ‘strategic financing with larger amount of grants and lower cost loans, together with private investments’ (p. 405).
Both the books agree on several points. Trilateral funding is an idea that needs to be pursued more vigorously. This can involve working with European companies, with the support of their governments. Both also recommend continuing focus on human resource development, which has always been a strong point. Another key element is an FDI-led approach engagement with Africa. We can expect good outcomes from an expanding footprint, with new embassies opening across the Continent.
These books are a valuable resource for researchers, and for the serious reader.
Kishan S Rana is former Ambassador, teacher and author.
It’s impressive that you aare gettiing ideas from thus pararaph aas welll aas frfom our argument made att tthis time.
great publish, very informative. I’m wondering why the other expertsof this sector don’t understand this. You should continue your writing.I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
celsius apartments apartments in memphis 6ft apart
Cheers to you, We mastered something new. Thank anyone so much. I search forward to nearby.
Utterly written content, thanks for selective information.
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you need to publish more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo matter but typically people don’t discuss these issues. To the next! Kind regards!!
Thanks for the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.
Enjoyed every bit of your blog post. Fantastic.
Thanks so much for the blog article.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Thanks so much for the blog.Really thank you! Want more.
Appreciate you sharing, great blog article.Really thank you! Really Great.
Awesome blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Really Great.
Your way of explaining the whole thing in this paragraph is in fact fastidious, every one be capable of simplybe aware of it, Thanks a lot.
Thanks ffor the marvvelous posting! I tduly enjoyed rewading it, yoou aree
a great author.Iwwill make certain to boolmark your bog and will cokme back inn the forseeable
future. I wwant tto encourage yoou too definnitely cntinue
your great posts, have a nice holiday weekend!
Rigvht nnow it sounds lioe Wordoress is thee ttop bloogging platgorm available rightt now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using oon your blog?
Terrrific work! Thiis iis thhe kiond oof info tat should bee shaded across thee internet.
Disgrace onn the search engines for noow not
ppsitioning this ublish higher! Coome on ovfer aand disccuss with my website .
Thanks =)
Valuable info. Lucky mme I founhd ypur site by accident, and I’m surprised whhy his accident didn’t came aout earlier!
I bookmarked it.
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in reality was a enjoyment account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how can we be in contact?
איטלקיה שווה ביותר מתחילה בלמצוץ זין כמו שצריך ובסוף מקבלת זין עמוק בתחת כמו שהיא אוהבתשירותי ליווי במרכז
Terrific post but I was wondering if you could write alitte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if youcould elaborate a little bit further. Kudos!
Im obliged for the blog.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.
Thanks , I have just been searching for information approximately this subject for a long time andyours is the greatest I have discovered till now.However, what concerning the conclusion? Are you positive concerning the supply?
This is a great tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very precise informationÖ Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read post!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
Great weblog right here! Also your website lots up fast! What host are you the use of? Can I am getting your associate link on your host? I want my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
I was curious if you ever considered changing the page layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
Hi! Quick question that’s completely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My weblog looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to fix this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share. Cheers!
The core of your writing whilst appearing reasonable initially, did not work very well with me personally after some time. Somewhere throughout the paragraphs you actually managed to make me a believer but only for a very short while. I still have a problem with your leaps in assumptions and one would do nicely to fill in all those breaks. If you can accomplish that, I would undoubtedly end up being amazed.
Hey there would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good hosting provider at a reasonable price? Thank you, I appreciate it!
you are in reality a good webmaster. The web site loading velocity is incredible. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a fantastic process on this matter!
Greetings! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one? Thanks a lot!
Does your website have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.
Having read this I thought it was rather informative.I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this short article together.I once again find myself spending a lot of timeboth reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
Terrific work! That is the type of information that are supposed to be shared across the internet. Disgrace on the seek engines for no longer positioning this submit upper! Come on over and consult with my site . Thank you =)
I have read several excellent stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much effort you put to create any such excellent informative web site.
I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
You actually make it seem really easy along with your presentation however I find this topic to be actually one thing which I think I’d never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely wide for me. I am having a look forward in your next submit, I will try to get the hang of it!