Jaitley for more efforts to tap African potential

Upbeat about the success of Focus Africa programme which led to a 36 per cent rise in exports to $24.52 billion in 2002-03, Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday sought more efforts to tap the region's potential.

"The Indian exports to Sub-Saharan Africa region recorded a growth of 36 per cent as compared to $18.01 billion in 2000-01. However, a lot more work needs to be done to tap the vast potential available in the region," Jaitley said, inaugurating a seminar on Focus Africa, in New Delhi.

He said the bilateral trade between India and the region had risen to $53.35 billion in 2002-03, a growth of 57 per cent over $34.05 billion in 2000-01.

Keeping in view the potential that the African region offered and India's insignificant presence there, the Focus Africa programme had been extended to 11 other countries where New Delhi had missions.

The countries covered include Angola, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Madgascar, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe along with the six countries of North Africa -- Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco and Algeria.

Pointing at the close relationship shared by India with the region, Jaitley said, "Our cooperation and close co-ordination on all important issues was shown in the recent Cancun Ministerial of the World Trade Organisation.

"On all important issues, whether agriculture, TRIPS or the Singapore Issues, there was not only meeting of minds but also close co-ordination between the Indian delegation and delegations of African nations," he said.