My Visit To Africa Is Part Of India’s Grand Strategy Towards Africa, Says President

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressed a Business Forum organized by the Centre for Promoting Investments into Côte d'Ivoire and the Confederation of Indian Industry yesterday (June 15, 2016) in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said his visit to Africa was part of a grand strategy towards Africa. The Vice President of India recently visited Morocco and Tunisia. The Prime Minister would be visiting some other countries in Africa shortly.

The President reminded that India during the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi last year announced concessional credit of 10 billion US dollars to African countries over a five year period - along with grant assistance of 600 million U.S. dollars. The Prime Minister of India has initiated number of measures such as Digital India, Make in India, Skill India etc. which open up new areas of cooperation among nations, particularly developing countries.

The President said India and Cote d’Ivoire are exploring new areas of friendship, cooperation and investment. A regional office of EXIM Bank has been opened in Abidjan which will facilitate the process.

At the Business Forum event, exchange of two MoUs also took place. The first MoU was between CII and CEPICI to enhance cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce of the two respective countries. The other MoU was between the private companies Tata from India and Sutra from Cote d’Ivoire to reinforce the existing transport fleet by import of 500 buses manufactured by Tata.

This release issued at 1300 hrs.