Title: India's economic diplomacy in Africa

Authors: H.H.S. Viswanathan

Addresses: ORF, 20 Rouse Avenue, New Delhi 110002, India

Abstract: India's economic diplomacy in Africa fits in very well with the overall engagement and the historic friendly relations with the continent. There is a sense of solidarity and shared historical experiences. Many of the problems faced by the newly independent India and the African countries were similar; hence the efforts to find common solutions. India's approach to development cooperation with Africa is also informed by its philosophy of South-South Cooperation which rejects the donor-recipient model of North-South Cooperation, but lays emphasis on an equal partnership model. The cooperation is driven by the demands of the partner countries. The stress is on human resource development and capacity building. With the high rates of economic growth in India on the one hand and a resurgent Africa on the other, India-Africa partnership has been fine-tuned to factor in the new realities. The establishment of India-Africa Forum Summits is a step in this direction.

Keywords: South-South Cooperation; India-Africa Forum Summits; Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation; ITEC; human resource development; HRD; capacity building; economic diplomacy; African resurgence; India; Africa; equal partnership.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDIPE.2013.057013

International Journal of Diplomacy and Economy, 2013 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.199 - 208

Published online: 12 Jul 2014 *

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