India enhances economic relations with Africa

The Indian High Commission has hosted its Fourth India-Africa Academic Conference dubbed: “India-West Africa: A Dynamic Relationship and Emerging Trends,” in Accra.

The two-day event which is aimed at strengthening economic ties between Africa and India, focused on five important areas: India-West Africa: Towards an Enduring Partnership; Enhanced Economic Engagement; India-West Africa Development Partnership: Past Experience and Future Prospects; Multilateral and Regional Engagements and India- Ghana: What the Future Holds.

A statement signed by Donald Gwira, Head– Corporate Communications and External Affairs of Airtel Ghana, and copied to Ghana News Agency, said the high level representatives who made presentations during the sub-theme: “Enhanced Economic Engagement,” were drawn from Africa and India.

They included Mukesh Ranjan, Director General of EIC, TATA Steel, West Africa; Mrs Mawuena Dumor Trebarh, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre; Manish Chand, Editor–in-Chief India Writes, and Mr K. Ajit Kumar, Chief General Manager Export–Import Bank of India.

Mr Gwira who made a presentation on behalf of the Managing Director of Airtel Ghana, Mr Philip Sowah, spoke on the topic: “India-West Africa Trade and Investment: The Way Ahead.”

He took participants through the journey Airtel is undertaking to connect communities across Ghana and beyond, by providing relevant and innovative mobile services to all.

Mr Gwira said Ghana’s trade with India has crossed a $1 billion mark for the first time since both countries started trading.

He also outlined some of India’s exports to Ghana which includes Telecommunications, Agricultural Machinery, Electricity Equipment, Plastic, Steel and Cement.

Mr Gwira said Airtel is ranked among the top four mobile service providers globally, with more than 276 million customers across 20 Countries, 17 of them in Africa.

He said Airtel Ghana has won numerous awards including the Telecoms Company of the Year and Best Customer Care 2012.

Mr Gwira said the rising cost of imported fuel, especially diesel and fiber cuts, are some of the challenges facing the industry.

“The outcome of the deliberations of the conference is expected to provide new and creative ideas to deepen and diversify India’s bilateral and regional engagements with West Africa,” the statement said.