|
Address by Minister of State for External
Affairs Smt Preneet Kaur at the Conference organised by ASSOCHAM on
“India-Africa Partnership in Agriculture”
27/03/2010
Your Excellencies,
Ambassadors and High Commissioners of friendly countries of Africa
Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly
The business representatives and farmers from our State,
The members of Assocham
Ladies & Gentlemen.
Today I am delighted to have the Heads of Mission of several
friendly countries with us in Patiala. I on behalf of the Government
of India and the people of Patiala welcome all of you to the
historic city of Patiala. Your presence gives a substantive
engagement to our bilateral relations by according an opportunity of
establishing a direct contact with agriculturists and potential
investors from Punjab.
Friends,
Our relationship with African countries is long-standing. We have
walked the same path of seeking independence from colonialism and
join the same road for development of our countries and peoples. In
many African countries, India is deeply respected for the political
support it offered in the period of struggle against colonialists
and invaders. Later the role of Indian educationists and businessmen
has been greatly valued. The familiarity with which India and
Indians are known in Africa is the expression of a true bond of
friendship and the creation of strong bonds of our common experience
and dreams for our people.
Excellencies,
The State of Punjab which occupies only 1.5 per cent of the
geographical area of the country meets two-third of the food grain
requirements of our country. Further over 95 per cent of the food
grains that are moved interstate to feed deficit areas through the
public distribution system are the stocks procured from this state.
No doubt Punjab is called India’s bread basket. The reason for India
becoming a food surplus country from a food deficit country is
mainly because of the success of the green revolution in Punjab.
The rising food prices in India and internationally and food
shortages, in the recent years, have highlighted the importance of
food security for every country. The crisis is more pronounced in
the developing world where the food output has not kept pace with
the growing population. The food inflation is expected to affect the
developing countries, where food constitutes a major portion of the
household spending and the rising prices effectively denies access
to the millions of poor people.
The initiative, to strengthen our relations with African countries,
especially in the field of agriculture, is an important component of
our larger vision of close, cooperative and multi-sectoral
partnership with African countries. Just a few days ago, we had
launched the Joint Action Plan between India and Africa to follow up
on the important decisions taken at the India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS)
in April 2008. The Action plan which mainly focuses on capacity
building in varied fields including agriculture, through training,
field visits of Indian professionals, consultancy and sharing of
knowledge and information will substantively contribute to our
African partners’ desire to fulfil the millennium development goals.
The Indian investment in Africa from the private sector is nowadays
attracting the largest attention. Our investors have traditionally
been important players in the transfer of technology, creation of
local employment and the promotion of intra-African trade besides
contributing to exports. The Indian investment in agriculture in
Africa is a recent phenomenon but due to the commitment and goodwill
enjoyed by our private sector entrepreneurs, it has seen a warm
welcome in many African countries. The agricultural investment is
aimed at utilising the unproductive arable land in many of these
countries to provide mutually beneficial food security to all of us.
I am sure with the strengthening of our co-operation in agriculture,
Africa can become a major export market in agriculture commodities.
I would also like to assure that in the process of transferring
technology and providing capital, we remain mindful that we want to
contribute to the genuine welfare of the farmers of African
countries and would like to utilise unutilised land and not displace
people.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am particularly pleased that several Ambassadors and High
Commissioners from the African countries have come all the way to
Patiala to participate in this Symposium and highlight the
opportunities in the agricultural sector in their countries today. I
am confident that our agriculturists, industry bodies and government
representatives, will benefit immensely with their country wise
presentations and deliberations. Through these forums I would like
to demonstrate the sincerity of India's engagement with Africa that
could be seen as harbingers to promote sustainable development on
both sides.
Finally, I appreciate ASSOCHAM’s initiative in organising this
important event for the first time in Patiala and wish the
conference success and hope that the outcome of these brief
deliberations could lead to tangible cooperation in times to come.
Thank you
Patiala
March 27, 2010 |
