Dear
Reader,
Greetings. In
recent years,
Africa has emerged
as one of the
most important
regions of the
world, with
which India's
bilateral trade
has grown by
leaps and bounds.
In fact, government
and business
leaders from
India and as
many as 32 African
countries who
participated
in the recent
India-Africa
Business Partnership
Summit, 2009,
organized jointly
by the Federation
of Indian Chambers
of Commerce
and Industry
(FICCI) and
the Ministry
of Commerce
and Industry,
in New Delhi,
expressed confidence
that the bilateral
trade between
the two regions
can triple over
the next five
years to reach
$100 billion.
India is also
planning to
double its Lines
of Credit to
African countries
to $5.4 billion
over the next
five years.
India is trying
to catch up
with China in
tapping the
resource-rich
Africa through
increased investment,
especially in
the energy sector.
The cover story
of the current
issue of Indo-African
Business makes
a detailed presentation
of the New Delhi
Summit. In the
Focus section,
we have a report
on "Africa's
Development:
Promises and
Prospects for
2008”,
prepared by
the Africa Progress
Panel, an independent
body set up
to monitor the
delivery of
promises made
by economically
developed to
developing countries,
calling for
more Food Aid
and further
liberalization
of trade policies.
Seychelles is
a country comprising
some spectacularly
beautiful islands
which offer
unlimited investment
avenues to Indian
hospitality
companies, according
to its High
Commissioner
to India Dick
Patrick Esparon.
The issue carries
an interview
with the High
Commissioner.
Export Import
Bank of India
(EximBank) has
been the most
prominent catalyst
in the promotion
of this country's
bilateral trade
with Africa
through its
various Lines
of Credit. We
carry a report.
Then, there
is a write-up
on the African
Development
Forum's recent
conference,
where a clarion
call was given
for financing
gender equality
initiates. The
issue also carries
an Exim Bank
study of the
Indian cement
industry's role
in developing
the country's
infrastructure.
Tanzania is
one of the African
countries with
which India's
bilateral trade
has been growing
by leaps and
bounds. We carry
a detailed report.
There is also
an article on
the preparations
of South Africa
for hosting
the 2010 Soccer
World Cup and
how some of
the qualifying
matches are
going to be
thrillers. The
issue carries
plenty of news
besides the
usual French
section.
Wish you happy
reading
Satya
Swaroop
Managing
Editor
satya@newmediacomm.biz
