Kolkata, September 15 (Daily Kiran) : The India-Africa Business Linkage Conference held in Kolkata focused on enhancing trade relations between the two continents. Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized that while trade with Africa is already strong, there are vast opportunities that need further exploration.
Stella Nakomo, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to India, stated that her primary goal is to transform the existing excellent bilateral relations into tangible economic benefits. She highlighted that Zimbabwe is fully open to Indian investments in sectors such as mining, manufacturing, and energy.
In a conversation following the conference, Ambassador Nakomo remarked, “We have just hosted an excellent conference on India-Africa Linkage. This event is timely, as one of my duties is to ensure that the strong bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and India are converted into concrete economic advantages. We are actively seeking investment opportunities and reassuring Indian businesses that Zimbabwe is open for business.”
She outlined the investment opportunities available in key sectors, including mining, manufacturing, and energy. “We have vast opportunities that I believe businesses with shared cultural backgrounds can leverage. It was also important to see that several of our countries were well-represented, indicating that they addressed issues pertinent to Africa,” she added.
Ambassador Nakomo noted that the challenges faced by both continents are similar, and the opportunities for collaboration are abundant. She emphasized the need for cooperation, especially after hearing various leaders speak about the necessity for sustainable development, which includes Africa.
Ajay Kumar reiterated the conference’s main objective: to inject new energy into India’s trade relations with Africa. He acknowledged that while trade ties are already robust, there is a pressing need to advance them further due to the immense potential. He encouraged regional businesses to view Africa as a significant trade destination and to strengthen ties on both sides.
Kumar also mentioned that BRICS is currently expanding, with several key African countries already joining. He believes that such international multilateral platforms will further promote exchanges between India and African nations, enhancing business prospects across the continent.
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