21 Jul 2022
High-level diplomats from
several African nations came together in New Delhi for a key two-day investment
meet on July 19. Close to 20 African countries with 40 ministers representing
Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon,
Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Niger, Malawi, Mauritius, Sudan, Namibia, Nigeria and
Sierra Leone.
The aim is to encourage
development of private investment from India in African countries. Started in
2005, there couldn’t have been a better time for India.
Existing trade
Lets look at the opportunities India
has, today. This year’s conclave focuses on infrastructure development and
trade finance, education and training, agriculture and food processing,
consultancy services, and healthcare.
Indian companies have steadily
increased their presence in Africa, over the years. Trade between Africa and
India increased from about USD 7 billion to USD 60 billion, from 2001 - 2017,
making India Africa’s 4th top trading partner.
However, bilateral trade between
India and the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa dropped from USD 56 billion to
USD 47 billion, from 2020 to 2021. We will not only have to play catch up, but
we will have to manage this more focussed.
India’s expertise
Take education and training. Africa
has a large working-age population and a growing middle class both ingredients
for India to add value to. A lot of India’s success came through efforts to
create the right environment for the future generation. Educating and
upskilling Africa’s youth through digital means can help bring overall prosperity.
The private sector is key to
this strategy, particularly in the areas of skill and capacity-building
initiatives, health care, agriculture, and the digital revolution, notes a
report by Brooking. With a determined government ready to support initiatives
in Africa, now is an opportune moment for the Indian private sector.
Advantages for Africa
And both education and skill
development doesn’t have to be expensive. We are well versed in both e-learning
and e-skilling. We have the talent and enough retired experts who are ready to
share their expertise. Unlike Western nations, we are priced affordably. Unlike
China, we have a language advantage, with teaching in English.
Enough and more Indian start ups
offer technology training in very flexible ways. Infyni is an e-learning platform poised
to launch their live online training courses in technology like Python, Java
Microservices, Business Analytics in Africa.
“And with our flexibility and
ingenuity we are able to scale when needed,” says Manoj Sinha, CEO of infyni.
Like they say, a lot is possible
by joining hands. ~ Anjana Das
Anjana Das
About Author
I handle all content for infyni. My writing career started as a foreign correspondent in Cairo, Egypt and through 12 years I wrote business articles, travel and feature stories on Europe, Middle and Far East. I grew up in West Africa, completed my Masters in Dentistry after which I taught and practiced. For the last 22 years, I have been devoted to writing & teaching young adults in Egypt, Malaysia, and now India.
