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The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a Round Table Discussion (RTD) on Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), a multilateral initiative with an objective to enhance growth and connectivity between Asia and Africa. It focuses on development cooperation projects, quality infrastructure and institutional connectivity, skill enhancement, and people-to-people partnership. The AAGC initiative emerged from PM’s visit to Japan in 2016, which was again discussed during Shinzo Abe’s visit to India in 2017.

During the Discussion, few areas were identified for development cooperation, like agriculture, health, technology, and disaster management. As the diaspora in Africa is in huge number, and the Non-Resident Indian community and African businessman have great interest in India, it becomes important to strengthen the people to people contact through better connectivity. Thus, the Discussion examined important aspects of shipping connectivity between India and Africa. It was also stressed, that there should be better disbursement of financial assistance committed by India through India Africa Forum Summit. It was felt that this would also require review of insurance premium, to bring this in line with those offered by other countries.

During the RTD, speakers mentioned that adequate resources have to be provided to operationalize the concept of AAGC. It would be helpful to make use of synergies available with the Japanese programme under Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). India already has made substantial investment in capacity building in Africa through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Furthermore, there was a discussion on India’s current engagement with Africa and evaluated points of convergence with Japan. The RTD was concluded on a note where it was decided that India and Africa must work together as partners for progress.