In clear recognition of enhanced importance that India and Gujarat attach to Africa, the first ever "Africa Day” was celebrated during the ‘9th Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2019 on 19th January 2019’ in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This was the first time in the history of Vibrant Gujarat that a day was dedicated to the entire Continent.
The key elements of the 'Africa Day' included a Plenary Session which was inaugurated by Smt. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister in the presence of Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijaybhai Rupani. Apart from External Affairs Minster and Chief Minister of Gujarat, Plenary Session was addressed by the visiting Ministers of Morocco, Liberia, Uganda, Rwanda, Republic of Congo and Namibia and the captains of Africa and Indian industries. Besides a huge participation from 50 out of 54 African countries, a large number of African students were also present in the Session.
During the Session, a MoU between the Government of Gujarat, Government of India and Government of Republic of Congo was also exchanged in the presence of External Affairs Minister and the Chief Minister of Gujarat. After the Plenary Session, a seminar on the subject of ‘opportunities and challenges for India in doing business with Africa’ was also organized which saw participation from African Ministers, prominent businessmen both from India and Africa, foreign diplomats and high ranking officials from Ministry of External Affairs and Government of Gujarat. A number of B to B MoUs were signed during this session, in the sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to healthcare, education, petrochemicals and aviation, etc. between India and African business houses.
In the afternoon, all the visiting African Ministers met Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu and exchanged views on the ways to further develop India's trade with Africa. Chief Minister hosted a lunch for the visiting Ministers and other dignitaries.
In the later part of the day, sector-specific B-2-B meetings and country seminars were organized for visiting African delegates, parallel with site visits to the sector-specific places such as, Health-care & pharmaceuticals, IT & ITES, Textiles, Banking & Financial Services, Agro-Business, Tourism, Heritage, & Hospitality Planning & Urban Development and skill Development & Education. In the evening a variety of cultural programs on the banks of Sabarmati showcasing rich colours of diverse culture of India and South Africa was presented to the visiting delegates.
Two short films one on India Africa relations and the other on rendition of "Vaishnav Jan to” by African singers were also screened during the day.
New Delhi
January 21, 2019