Sunday, April 6, 2008

India to court Africa for business

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7333478.stm

"At the external affairs ministry in Delhi, preparations are underway for what many are saying is India's most important diplomatic event this year - the India-Africa summit which kicks off this week."

One can only hope that African leaders will deal with India (and China for that matter) in a proper manner and from at least an equal footing so that Africa benefits substantially from these relationships. Africa, of course, has a long history with neo-colonialism and will have learnt valuable lessons from dealing with Europeans and later the USA.

I welcome a robust, mutually-beneficial relationship with India - one that is much better for Africa than those forged with Europe and the Americas, for instance.

I hope African companies will invest in India and share in the latter's economic boom as it attempts to share in Africa's renaissance.

2 comments:

  1. what do you mean Africa has learnt valuable lessons from colonialism.

    Show me any country in Africa that has progressed substantially since the days of colonialsm.

    In my view, Africa is yet to learn.

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  2. I take it you're referring to my statement: "Africa, of course, has a long history with neo-colonialism and will have learnt valuable lessons from dealing with Europeans and later the USA."

    The failure of Africa to progress substantially since the days of colonialism is not due to a simple matter of not learning from colonialism. Think about "cause and effect"; "action and reaction"; "decisions and consequences" etc... Unless you believe that Africa is somehow a stupid continent or that the people are just born to be dominated, then why would Africa not have learned lessons from colonialism?

    Even the last couple of decades tell a tale...For instance, in the 1980s, African leaders accepted the World Bank's disastrous (and designed to be so) Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) as the gospel truth with disastrous consequences . . while in the last 5 or 6 years, they have been implementing home-grown policies which have begun to bring benefits.

    Even you must admit that half a millennium of being conquered and plundered takes its toll even on a resourceful and prideful people! Nothing comes into being by itself...cause and effect etc - think about that...research the history books and map the rise of Africa followed by the fall of Africa to European powers...to today's state of affairs and the balance of global power . . .

    Anyway, if in your view, Africa is yet to learn - as an African (hopefully, you consider yourself one) what are you doing about it?

    Holla!

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