$18 Bn Worth of Projects Discussed at India-Africa Conclave
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
NEW DELHI: Projects worth $18 billion were discussed at the India-Africa conclave that concluded here on Tuesday after two days of deliberations in sectors ranging from education to energy.
The seventh edition of the CII-Exim Bank conclave on India Africa Project Partnership was attended by two prime ministers and over a dozen ministers from Africa. The conclave witnessed the largest ever participation with 650 delegates, who discussed 204 projects worth $18 billion.
Speaking at the valedictory session Tuesday, Togoan Prime Minister Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo said that the partnership between India and Africa was “all about poverty alleviation and wealth creation for our people”.
“At a session, I was asked how many people were below the poverty line in Togo. I was not embarrassed. If it had been just 10 percent, instead of 60 percent, I would be here in India for tourism, not for them,” said Houngbo, to a round of applause. He felt that the India-African partnership has “reached a point of no return”. “The only way is forward… the challenge is to deliver faster and more effectively,” he added.
