PM announces duty free market access for Africa

09 Apr '08

3 min read

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh announced a Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme for Least Developed Countries while addressing the First Indo-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi.

Reiterating the belief that only by investing in the creative energies of our youth the potential of our partnership will be fulfilled, the Prime Minister proposed that India and Africa work towards the establishment of an India-Africa Volunteer Corps that is devoted to development work.

India wishes to see the 21st Century as the Century of Asia and Africa with the people of the two continents working together to promote inclusive globalisation, Dr. Singh added.

Following is the text of the Prime Minister's address on the occasion:

“I am truly delighted and deeply honoured to have this unique opportunity to welcome this distinguished galaxy of leaders from Africa for the first India-Africa Forum Summit. Excellencies, your presence here today marks the start of a new chapter in the long history of civilisational contacts, friendship and cooperation between India and Africa.

Africa is our Mother Continent. The dynamics of geology may have led our lands to drift apart, but history, culture and the processes of post-colonial development have brought us together once again.

For the people of India, Africa is also the land of awakening of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The birth of an independent India in 1947 in turn provided powerful support to the forces of nationalism and decolonisation in Africa.

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