India, Africa to boost cooperation in energy, agri: Minister

India and Africa have identified areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and energy for boosting bilateral cooperation, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.
In a joint statement issued after the fourth India-Africa Trade Ministers' meeting here, Sitharaman said both India and Africa face similar challenges and concerns and the world economy offers tremendous opportunities to the two 'fastest growing regions'.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, she said: "We have not set any targets (related to bilateral trade). However, we did identify areas of common interest and it has emerged very clearly that infrastructure, expanding the scope of agriculture, energy, human resource development and healthcare seem to be the areas in which there is immediate possibility of cooperation with African countries and Indian businesses".

Exhorting captains of industry from India and Africa to drive business, she said that the private sector should take the lead in promoting investment between India and Africa and assured that the governments of India and member African countries would facilitate the private sector by providing them with a conducive regulatory environment.
Pointing out that she had a "very useful" discussion with her African counterparts, Sitharaman said: "Africa holds immense potential not just as (India's) export destination but also because there is scope for infrastructure development, for a hospital administration to go build-operate and transfer hospitals, and also if you pick up some mines and extract minerals and bring them back to India".