Faridabad, February 13 (IANS). Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday said that a new chapter of India-Africa partnership has started from the sacred and culturally rich land of Surajkund. He discussed economic cooperation with ambassadors and high commissioners of 21 African countries.
Haryana government said that in the Haryana-Africa strategic partnership meeting held in Surajkund, possibilities of cooperation between Haryana and African countries in the fields of industry, trade, investment and technical cooperation were discussed.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini said that the annual Surajkund International Crafts Mela, organized from the culturally rich land of Surajkund, is a global platform of folk traditions, handicrafts, creativity and human skills, which strengthens cultural ties and economic cooperation.
The Chief Minister said that India-Africa relations are based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and shared development.
“In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Haryana is committed to building long-term and strong relations with African countries at the state level,” he said.
He said, “Haryana is the first state in the country to establish a separate Foreign Cooperation Department to promote international cooperation.”
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is rapidly becoming an engine of growth in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, MSME, food processing, automobile components and startups.
“The state enjoys global connectivity and strong logistics facilities due to its connectivity with the National Capital Region, which offers vast potential for multi-sectoral cooperation with African countries,” he said.
Describing agriculture as a key area of India-Africa cooperation, he said that Haryana’s expertise in irrigation management, improved seeds, crop diversification, agricultural mechanization, dairy and post-harvest management can be helpful in strengthening food security in African countries.
He also mentioned the possibilities of joint farming, training programs and technical partnerships with Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
He said the agreements with the Tanzania Investment Center and other agricultural and institutional bodies will promote trade, investment and agricultural cooperation.
The Chief Minister said that there is huge scope for cooperation in automobile, healthcare, IT, construction, skill development, startup and MSME sectors.
Describing renewable energy, water conservation and green development as a shared moral responsibility, Chief Minister Saini said that joint efforts in the field of solar energy, water management and environment protection are necessary to secure the future of the coming generations.
Haryana’s Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh said that this is an important opportunity to further strengthen trade relations between India and Africa.
Bilateral trade between India and Africa has reached approximately $90-100 billion in recent years, reflecting the strong economic partnership between the two regions.
He said India mainly imports crude oil, gold, coal, fertilizers and minerals from Africa, while exporting petroleum products, medicines, automobiles and auto parts, machinery, rice and engineering products.
He said that this trade is not limited to goods only but is also expanding into sectors like education, health, IT and capacity building.
–IANS
AMT/DKP