Africa a key region for future development, says Prime Minister Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who concluded a successful two-day visit to Nigeria on Sunday (November 17, 2024) has said that he sees Africa as a key region for future development. India had opened 18 new embassies across Africa in the last five years, he pointed out in support of his statement while addressing the Indian community in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja.

Stating that India had worked tirelessly to amplify Africa’s voice on the global stage in recent years, Prime Minister Modi referred to India’s G20 presidency last year as a good example. 

“We made significant efforts to ensure that the African Union became a permanent member, and we succeeded. I am delighted that every G20 member country fully supported Bharat's initiative. At Bharat's invitation, Nigeria witnessed this historic moment as an honoured guest nation. One of President Tinubu’s earliest visits after taking office was to Bharat, and he was one of the first leaders to attend the G20 Summit,” he remarked.

According to Prime Minister Modi, India has emerged as a beacon of hope for the world; the country also stands ready as a first responder whenever a crisis occurs anywhere in the world, embracing its role of Vishwa Bandhu (Global Ally). 

“You might recall the chaos during the coronavirus pandemic. The world was in turmoil, and every nation was preoccupied with vaccine shortages. At that critical moment, Bharat resolved to share vaccines with as many countries as possible. This is part of our cultural values, rooted in thousands of years of tradition. As a result, Bharat ramped up vaccine production and supplied medicines and vaccines to over 150 countries, including Nigeria,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi used the opportunity to highlight the strides taken by India across diverse sectors in recent years, particularly the massive expansion in the country’s manufacturing industry.

India ranks among the largest mobile phone manufacturers in the world, producing over 30 crore mobile phones annually, he said, adding that mobile phone exports had increased more than 75-fold over the last decade. Likewise, India’s defence exports have multiplied nearly 30 times in the same period. “Today, we export defence equipment to over 100 countries,” Prime Minister Modi pointed out.

At the same time, the world was taking note of India's achievements in the space industry, he said, referring to the plan to soon send Indians into space through the Gaganyaan mission and the preparations to build a space station.

During the course of his address, Prime Minister Modi also lauded the Indian community in the country, saying it had always stood by Nigeria, sharing in both its joys and sorrows. “Many Nigerians, now in their forties or sixties, will recall being taught by Indian teachers. Indian doctors continue to serve the people here. Indian entrepreneurs have established businesses in Nigeria, contributing significantly to the nation’s development,” he remarked.