NAIROBI, Kenya, May 22 – President Mwai Kibaki is scheduled to attend the second Africa-India Forum Summit that opens on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The India–Africa Forum, the official platform for the African-Indian relations, aims at expanding economic cooperation, trade and investment linkages between African countries and India.
"The President and his delegation will depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) shortly after 3pm (on Monday)," a statement from State House said.
The Forum Summit falls within the framework of partnership between Africa and India and is a follow-up of the first Africa-India Forum in April 2008 during which the New Delhi Declaration and Framework of Cooperation was adopted.
Through the Forum, Africa and India will reinforce the multi-dimensional relations existing between the two continents. African Heads of State are expected to press for firm commitments from India on issues pertaining to economic cooperation.
During his trip, President Kibaki will also hold talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as a follow-up to talks the two leaders held in Kampala last week. President Kibaki will also hold talks with India’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
The Addis Ababa Forum Summit will review implementation of the partnership projects and consider modalities to strengthen cooperation between the two partners in the areas of Economic; Political; Science, Technology, Research and Development; Social Development and Capacity Building; Tourism; Infrastructure, Energy and Environment and Media and Communication.
The first Forum Summit in New Delhi adopted a joint Declaration and Action plan committing India to assist African countries through new financial flows in the spirit of South-South cooperation.
Under the Framework of Cooperation, the two partners reaffirm their commitment towards increased agricultural input to achieve the Millennium Development Goal, by halving proportion of people who suffer from Hunger and Malnutrition in the two continents.
India further committed itself to supporting African countries with concessional loans and grants to finance mutually beneficial projects.
Due to growing recognition of small, medium and micro enterprises as significant support avenues for industrialization, employment generation and enhanced local capacities, Africa and India are set to work together in creation of entrepreneurship development.
On the political scene, Africa and India commit themselves to working together with the United Nations through regular consultations to improve on democratic governance and to promote and protect human rights among other issues for sustainable peace and security which are essential for progress and development.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to attend the Summit while some 16 African countries including Kenya have been invited to the summit on behalf of the continent.
Trade exhibition, media partnership symposium, cultural performances, and Indian film festival are among the events to mark the occasion of the summit.
He will be accompanied by the
Minister for Internal security who is acting minister for Foreign Affairs Prof George Saitoti, Trade Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere and legislators George Nyamweya and Eric Omondi Anyanga among other senior Government officials.
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