New Delhi: “India and Africa must speak in one voice”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking with reference to U.N Reforms, while referring to both the countries as “the two bright spots of hope and opportunities in the global economy”.
Addressing representatives of African nations at the third India-Africa Forum Summit, he said, “This is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations. Our institutions cannot be representative of our world, if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of U.N. members or the world’s largest democracy with one-sixth of humanity”.
Modi who held bilateral meetings with all 40 leaders present in Delhi, the largest such representation at an African summit outside the continent, also spoke to them about the need to coordinate their positions at the U.N. during its 70th year, when India hopes the reform process will be taken forward.
Outlining India’s vision and desire to assist Africa in building infrastructure from “Cairo to Cape Town, Marrakesh to Mombassa”, he also announced credit at a concessional rate of $10 billion over five years, in addition to about $7.4 billion that India has already pledged since 2008, and the first summit.
“We will also offer a grant assistance of $600 million. This will include an India-Africa Development Fund of $100 million and an India-Africa Health Fund of $10 million,” he said, adding that 50,000 scholarships would be given to African students.
