30 OCTOBER 2015: $10 billion to Africa

Ø  The India-Africa Forum Summit, the largest diplomatic gathering in India in recent years, ended on Thursday with the announcement of the Delhi Declaration 2015, which called for a global plan to combat cross-border terrorism, better trade between India and Africa and faster reform of the U.N. Security Council. Before unveiling the Delhi Declaration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called India and Africa “the two bright spots of hope and opportunities in the global economy,” emphasising that India and Africa must “speak in one voice” for U.N. reforms. Interestingly, the segment on U.N. reforms in the Delhi Declaration gives greater push for the African continent finding equal representation in a reformed U.N. Security Council. This is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations. Our institutions cannot be representative of our world if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of U.N. members, or the world’s largest democracy with one-sixth of humanity. Mr. Modi, who held bilaterals with all 40 leaders, the largest such representation at an African summit outside the continent, also spoke to them about the need to coordinate their positions at the U.N. during its 70th year, when India hopes the reform process will be taken forward. Interestingly, the Delhi Declaration has a special mention of the sanctity of state sovereignty which acquires a new dimension in view of several states in Africa, facing serious challenges to their sovereignty.

Ø  Its camera provides aerial surveillance from a height of up to 1500 feet and can zoom in to monitor suspicious movements. The system can also provide video surveillance over a 5 km. radius. The balloon can remain airborne for up to 72 hours continuously. Mr. Shmueli said RT’s aerostat systems have been operational for a decade in various military and civilian missions and have logged more than 700,000 operation hours. “I am certain that India will greatly benefit from the use of these systems,” he said. Mistral's chairman Anees Ahmed said the product is also useful in emergency situations like earthquakes and floods. The other applications include surveillance of sports events, public rallies, border and coastal areas. The product would be available in India under the brand name Mistral-RT1000.

Ø  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday outlined his desire to assist Africa with infrastructure building from “Cairo to Cape Town, Marrakesh to Mombassa.” Addressing the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) here, Mr. Modi announced credit at concessional rates of $10 billion over 5 years, in addition to about $7.4 billion that India had already pledged since 2008, and the first IAFS. “We will also offer a grant assistance of $600 million. This will include an India-Africa Development Fund of $100 million and an India-Africa Health Fund of $10 million,” the PM said, adding that 50,000 scholarships would be given to African students, whom he called the “new links” between India and the African continent.