External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj, at a ceremony held at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan today handed over symbolically e-Rickshaws to Ambassador of Republic of Senegal, H.E. Mr. El Hadji Ibou Boye. EAM along with Ambassador of Senegal took a short ride
in the e-Rickshaw to experience the ease of mobility that the vehicle would bring for the common man.
India is supplying 250 e-Rickshaws with lithium-ion batteries on grant basis to Senegal, responding to the request of President Macky Sall of Senegal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These e-Rickshaws are made in India by Goenka Electric Motors Vehicles (Pvt)
Ltd and procured through HMT International Ltd. India has seen a surge towards battery powered e-Rickshaws in the recent past. The supply of 250 e-Rickshaws is expected to assist Senegal in adopting clean and efficient energy sources in the area of urban public
transport.
India and Senegal enjoy warm and friendly bilateral relations. The bilateral relations are marked by regular high level contacts and cooperation, including in the multilateral forums. Bilateral trade between India and Senegal during 2017-18 was at a record
US $ 1.28 billion. India’s Line of Credit (LOC) projects in Senegal (both ongoing and completed) are estimated at more than US $ 300 million. Senegal is a member of International Solar Alliance (ISA).
India is committed to fulfill its role as an important partner for Africa’s development, especially through the initiatives under the India-Africa Forum Summit.
India’s relations will continue to be guided by 10 principles of our engagement with Africa outlined by Prime Minister earlier this year.
New Delhi
November 16, 2018