India to Africa: We're not China
Thursday will mark Africa and India鈥檚 third annual summit 鈥� with over 2,000 African delegates from over 54 countries arriving in New Delhi to meet with the Indian Parliament. The agenda includes helping Africa combat rising terrorist threats, food, health, environmental sustainability, and economic trade. Oh, and China.
In recent years, India has made strenuous efforts to amplify its presence in Africa. Since India to all least developed countries in 2008 and Indian-African trade now totals roughly $72 billion a year.
But the numbers don鈥檛 come anywhere close to those racked up by China: In the past four years, China has doubled its trade with Africa to nearly $222 billion in 2014, importing in from Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Sudan, and the Republic of the Congo.
The Indian government, however, is working hard to distinguish itself from its Chinese neighbors. When asked by African journalists whether India was trying to compete with China,聽Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shrugged off the question.
鈥�. It is a relationship with a strong emotional link. It has been forged by our intersecting history; our centuries-old ties of kinship, commerce and culture; our common struggle against colonialism; our quest for equality, dignity and justice among all people; and, our shared aspirations for our progress and a voice in the world,鈥� Mr. Modi said, adding, 鈥淥ur relationship with Africa is unique and does not need any point of reference.鈥澛�
In recent years, India has crafted a new image in Africa. India has built solar panel plants in Mozambique, increased , helped Cameroon fight off the Boko Haram, and 聽and sugar plantations in Ethiopia.聽
In addition, India is a major exporter of pharmaceuticals and motor vehicles to African countries, and imports a significant amount of crude oil, coal, gold and gemstones from Africa. But this year's summit includes a from African countries: managing livestock in South Sudan, reconstructing an island destroyed by a volcanic eruption in Cape Verde, and more help in controlling Boko Haram鈥檚 presence in Cameroon.
India isn鈥檛 the only country with an eye on China鈥檚 presence in Africa: President Obama has also made attempts to encourage stronger trade relations between the US and Africa.聽
In April this year, China surpassed the United States as a trading partner. In a four-day visit to Ethiopia last April, President Obama offered the US as an alternative trading partner 鈥� while taking some digs at the ways in which China has forged its own bonds with the continent. 鈥淓conomic relationships can鈥檛 simply be about building countries鈥� infrastructure with foreign labor or ,鈥� Mr. Obama said. 鈥淩eal economic partnerships have to be a good deal for Africa. They have to create jobs and capacity for Africans.鈥澛�
Whether this year鈥檚 summit will do much to change China鈥檚 growing presence in Africa is unlikely, but it鈥檚 a step in a new direction for India and Africa. As Modi reminded, Africa and India are bonded by something China can鈥檛 touch: a colonial legacy.
鈥�. The colonial legacy left a long and deep impact on all of us. Africa, too, has passed through difficult times. However, Africa is making impressive progress now,鈥� Modi said, later adding, 鈥淚ndia has emerged as a major investor from the developing world in Africa, surpassing even China.鈥�
[Editor's note: An earlier version misstated the annual value of聽Indian-African trade.]
