India negotiating MoUs with African countries for import of pulses
New Delhi, Sep 14 (UNI) India has entered into agreements with Malawi and Mozambique for import of pulses to meet growing domestic demands, and is also negotiating MoUs with some other African countries for import of pulses, Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said on Tuesday, and added that New Delhi is keen to explore the opportunity of investing in the agriculture sector in Africa.
Addressing the India-Africa Agriculture and Food Processing Summit, the Minister said India is always ready to share its experience and expertise of flagship programmes with African partners such as ‘Soil Health Card scheme’, ‘Per Drop More Crop’ for efficient use of soil and water in agriculture production.
“Projects such as establishment of the India-Africa Regional Soil Water and Tissue Testing Laboratories in countries of Africa are under implementation at various stages,” he added.
“Africa has significant land to offer for production of various products, and India would like to explore the opportunity to invest overseas and produce crops, while creating large scale employment, generating income, and even allow the economy to move up the value chain through creation of agro-processing facilities,” the minister said.
He said that the Indian private sector has already started investing in the agriculture sector in several African countries, which has not only created jobs but also contributed towards the food/agri products availability and boosted exports from these countries.
On the economic front, India is the fourth largest trading partner for Africa registering US$ 69.7 billion trade with the continent in 2018-19 and has become the fifth largest investor in Africa with a cumulative investment at US$ 70.7 billion.
The Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme announced by India has benefited African nations by extending duty free access to 98.2 per cent of India’s total tariff lines. “With a collective GDP of over US$ 2.4 trillion and a population of more than 1.3 billion, Africa offers a great market to rising economies like India. Two indicators from the World bank underline the continent’s promising future. First, of the 10 fastest growing economies in the World in 2018, six were in Africa. Second, in the World Bank’s 2019 Doing Business Index, five of the 10 most improved countries were in Africa,” he added.
On the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) , which came into force from January 1 this year, he said it is expected to play a greater role on the pan- African agriculture development. “It will help Africa realize its full potential, as per their priorities in agri-business to attain self-sufficiency in food security. We may explore the possibility of increasing our economic and commercial ties with Africa making use of the available opportunities under the AfCFTA,” Muraleedharan said.
Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the growth of the world including in African countries, he said as an agriculture and resource wealthy continent, Africa has the potential to turn this into an opportunity by optimal utilization of its potential to alleviate its poverty situation. “We will be happy to partner with Africa in this venture,” he added.
Earlier in the speech, he noted that the past six years saw intense political engagement between India and Africa with 34 outgoing visits from India at level of President, Vice President and Prime Minister, and more than 100 incoming visits at Head of State/Head of Government and Ministerial level.
“These have reinforced our ties with Africa. PM Narendra Modi’s top 10 ‘Broad Guiding Principles’ have defined India’s engagement with Africa for the 21st century partnership. One of the principles includes India’s commitment to develop Africa’s Agriculture sector together. To enhance diplomatic engagements with Africa, India already has 40 Resident Missions in Africa and the number will reach 47 after opening seven new Missions in the near future.