Luanda - Indian ambassador to Angola Pratibha Parkar said Thursday in Luanda that her country gives great importance to Africa, whose territory it has allocated, between 1996 and 2021, an accumulated investment of US$73.9 billion.
By Manuel Jerónimo
In an interview to ANGOP, regarding the strategy of this Asian giant for the presidency of the G-20, started on 21 December 2022, the diplomat said that Africa is in the priorities of the foreign policy of her country, which opened its market to the African States.
The diplomat said that cooperation with African States is based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, solidarity and mutual benefit, in line with the principles of 'Africa-owned' and 'Africa-led' development.
She also said that India is among the top five investors in Africa, with bilateral trade reaching $89.5 billion between 2021 and 2022.
"Thanks to the Duty-Free Tariff Preference System (DFTP), which extends duty-free access to 98.2 per cent of India's total tariff lines, the Indian state has opened its market to African countries. So far, thirty-three African LDC countries have been entitled to get benefits under this scheme," She said.
During the talk, she also reiterated the cooperation relationship with Angola, which she considers cordial, and expressed interest in expanding it to new areas, such as agriculture and food processing, diamonds and the mining industry, as well as health and telecommunications.
"India and Angola share solid technical and educational cooperation," she said, adding that this year alone thirty Angolan students have been sent to India to attend UG/PG and higher education courses at renowned local universities.
Regarding the G-20 presidency, she acknowledges that her country has taken over at a time when the world is simultaneously grappling with geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, rising food and energy prices and the long-term adverse effects of Covid-19.
"India is aware that at this time the world is looking at the G-20 with hope. At the time of assuming office, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that the G-20 presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented," She said.
