Sunil Barthwal Highlights Key Sectors for India-Africa Collaboration at Business Conclave
New Delhi [India], August 22: Sunil Barthwal, Commerce Secretary, identified four key sectors poised for substantial collaboration: automotive, agriculture and agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and transport and logistics. This announcement was made on the final day of the 19th CII India-Africa Business Conclave, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
Barthwal stated, “Identified four potential sectors, and this is very important for everybody to understand. And these four sectors are automotive, second one is agriculture and agro-processing, third one is pharmaceuticals, and the fourth one is transport and logistics.”
He emphasized the growth in trade between the two regions, noting that India’s total trade with Africa reached nearly USD 100 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23, the highest trade level ever recorded between the two regions. Barthwal projected that with the current growth trajectory, bilateral trade could double to approximately USD 200 billion by 2030.
Despite its own food security challenges, India has prioritized supporting African nations through government-to-government arrangements. India continues to supply essential commodities, such as rice, to maintain stability and food availability in Africa. Barthwal said, “India continues to supply essential commodities like rice, to ensure stability and food availability in African countries. This commitment highlights India’s solidarity with Africa, particularly in times of need, ensuring that our partnership remains robust and responsive.”
Indian pharmaceutical companies are playing a vital role in improving healthcare access and affordability in Africa, with pharmaceutical exports from India to Africa at USD 3.8 billion in 2023. Barthwal noted the potential for higher trade growth in providing affordable medicines and healthcare in Africa.
India is committed to offering trade-related capacity-building programs in areas such as trade facilitation, promotion, finance, policy, and negotiations. Barthwal urged both regions to leverage their combined strengths to maximize economic benefits for their people, the global south, and the world at large.
Barthwal concluded, “India and African countries share strong common views and interest on issues related to food security, agriculture, technology transfer, policy space for industrial development and WTO reformers, we must remain together. And this is very, very important the way there has been a fragmentation of the whole globe.”
He added, “India is also willing to offer trade-related capacity-building programs in areas such as trade facilitation, trade promotion, trade finance, trade policy and trade negotiations. Let us work on the new opportunities and leverage our combined strengths to derive maximum economic benefits for the people of India, Africa, the global south and the world as a whole.”
Doubts Revealed
Sunil Barthwal -: Sunil Barthwal is an important person in the Indian government. He works as the Commerce Secretary, which means he helps manage trade and business matters for India.
Commerce Secretary -: The Commerce Secretary is a high-ranking official in the Indian government who looks after trade and business activities between India and other countries.
CII -: CII stands for Confederation of Indian Industry. It is a group that helps Indian businesses grow and work together with other countries.
India-Africa Business Conclave -: The India-Africa Business Conclave is a big meeting where people from India and Africa come together to talk about business and trade opportunities.
automotive -: The automotive sector includes businesses that make and sell cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
agriculture and agro-processing -: Agriculture is about growing crops and raising animals for food. Agro-processing means turning these crops and animals into products like flour, juice, or packaged meat.
pharmaceuticals -: Pharmaceuticals are medicines and drugs that help people stay healthy or get better when they are sick.
transport and logistics -: Transport and logistics involve moving goods and people from one place to another, like using trucks, ships, or planes.
investment -: Investment means putting money into something, like a business, to help it grow and make more money in the future.
trade -: Trade is the buying and selling of goods and services between people or countries.
technology empowerment -: Technology empowerment means using new tools and machines to make work easier and more efficient.
USD 100 billion -: USD 100 billion is a very large amount of money, measured in US dollars, which is a currency used in many countries around the world.
essential commodities -: Essential commodities are basic goods that people need to live, like food, water, and medicine.
affordable healthcare solutions -: Affordable healthcare solutions are medical services and products that people can buy without spending too much money.
