Excelsior Correspondent
ABIDJAN (CÔTE DIVOIRE), June 15: The first ever visit by any President of India to Abidjan City of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) underlining the importance that India attaches to each of the countries in African continent,was marked by President Pranab Mukherjee’s address at the bilateral delegation level talks between two countries ,where he reiterated India’s commitment to Africa and called for increase in economic engagement between the two countries.
The Indian Delegation consisted of Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, two Members of Parliament and senior officers of the Ministry of External Affairs while the other side was led by President Alassane Ouattara and senior Ministers of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
The hallmark of the meeting was signing of an MoU to facilitate opening of Exim Bank Office at Côte d’Ivoire to promote trade, business and investment between the two countries.
President Mukherjee called for reinforcement of regional cooperation and providing financial support at concessional rates through Exim Bank. He also recalled that during third Indo-African Summit held in New Delhi in October 2015, Government of India had committed USD 10 billion support to Africa.
President Mukherjee also observed that India’s private sector is ready to invest in Africa. He said, the need of the hour is not only availability of technology, but availability of appropriate technology.
President Mukherjee also emphasized the importance of promoting small and medium enterprises which are important for the economic growth of developing countries.
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