Pranab boosts Brand India in Africa

ON BOARD AIR INDIA ONE India’s strong ties with African countries received a further boost following the culmination of President Pranab Mukherjee’s successful six-day visit to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Namibia on Saturday. The President also emerged as a leading torchbearer for Brand India, who through his statesmanship, vast experience and tall stature gave a strong message that India would always stand by Africa.

Mukherjee is the first Indian Head of State to Visit Accra and Abidjan and the second to make a trip to Windhoek. A number of agreements entailing cooperation in varied areas such as Information Technology, military training, fisheries, railways, initiation of bu- reaucrats and foreign service personnel and an increased role of private sector were signed, consolidating strong economic bonds. Mukherjee raised the issue of uranium supply to India with Namibian President Dr Hage Geingob and requested him to take the agreement signed between the two countries in 2009 forward so that supply could commence without any further delay. In Ghana, he had a fruitful meeting with President John Dramani Mahama, where wide ranging issues were flagged including expansion on cooperation of civil nuclear energy, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.

The President made out a strong case for both India, with one sixth of the world’s population, as well as the African continent to have representation in the United