Vice President Hamid Ansari today asserted that India's ties with the African continent have always been "very strong" but friendship is something that needs to be "reiterated and renewed" and not taken for granted.
The Vice President, on a five-day visit to Rwanda and Uganda, told reporters that his tour was part of a "conscious effort" by the government to intensify the country's interaction and engagement with Africa.
Sources indicated that India is likely to sign a few MoUs during Ansari's visit in various sectors, though no official confirmation has been made.
"India's ties with the African continent have always been very strong but friendship is something that needs to be reiterated and renewed. It's a plant that needs to be watered, and no friendship can be taken for granted," Ansari told a group of reporters en route to Rwanda.
The Vice President has already visited five countries in Africa - Nigeria, Mali, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
Ansari's visit is India's first high-level visit to Rwanda and first high-level bilateral visit to Uganda since 1997.
"Our President has made visits to three African countries, the Prime Minister to four and I have visited five already. Not, much of Central Africa though. And, now Rwanda and Uganda visit is on the same line," he said.
Ansari hailed the two East African countries on their "remarkable progress" after going through a tough period in the past.
"Rwanda is a country which has a living memory of very bad and unpleasant experience... And then the 1993-1994 genocide. There was a massive infighting. But they are making remarkable progress. And, international marketing experts are saying it. Also, their economic policies are being welcomed," he said.
"We are development associates and I can say that road that these countries are travelling is the road that we (India) have travelled. So we can share our technology and innovation. We don't try to force them to do anything we let them decide which areas they wish to cooperate," Ansari said, when asked about possible areas of bilateral cooperation.
To emphasise further the India-Africa link, the Vice President recalled the services rendered by the country in liberation movement and in fight against apartheid.
"So we have friendship with old associations, as we assisted them in their national liberation movement. India's role in the struggle against the apartheid is very well known, especially in East Africa and the experience from India is something the Africans talk about without any hesitation," he said.
So, this exercise of redoing and renewing partnership in a
changing world offer areas of cooperation, and the present effort of the government since the India-Africa Forum Summit in 2015 is to further engage Africa, and we are following it very consistently, Ansari said.
India has engaged with Rwanda and Uganda on many levels. A 28 MW hydroelectric power project on the Nyabarongo River in Rwanda was constructed with a Line of Credit worth USD 80 million from India. Besides, 35 schools in Rwanda have been solar-electrified, a senior MEA official said.
"India has also stationed a four-member military training team in Uganda since 2010 to train Ugandan defence personnel and has also deployed a telecom expert, the official said.
Ansari, during his visit, is slated to address India- Uganda Business Forum and launch India-Rwanda Innovation Growth Programme as part opf which there would be a technology expo of India's low-cost innovations.
"As regards our relationship, both Rwanda and Uganda are important from the point of view of trade, especially in the pharmaceuticals, automobiles and mechanical appliances and machinery sectors. Our trade with Rwanda has doubled over the last five years, while we are one of Uganda's largest trading partners," the MEA official said.
India has consistently been one of the top import sources for Rwanda. The major items of India's exports to Rwanda include pharmaceuticals, vehicles, textiles, electrical machinery, optical and other precision instruments and plastics.
Major imports from Rwanda include coffee, tea, spices, salt, sulphur, precious and semi-precious stones.
India has also extended a USD 120.05 million EXIM Bank Line of Credit to Rwanda for an irrigation project.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, at whose invitation Ansari is travelling to that country, at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January this year, had expressed his readiness to discuss and engage in business with investors from India.
Rwanda has an Indian community of about 3000 people and the country's only sugar refinery, its modern textile mill as well as a soap and cosmetic factory are owned by PIOs (Persons of Indian-origin), according to officials.
