Manmohan Singh’s six-day African nations tour begins today

Seeking to inject a fresh impetus to India’s strategic ties with African countries, prime minister Manmohan Singh leaves on Monday on a six-day visit to Ethiopia and Tanzania during which he will discuss ways to effectively combat the twin threats of terrorism and piracy.

Singh, who will first head for Addis Ababa, the seat of the African Union, for the Second Africa-India Forum Summit to be attended by 15 African countries, is also expected to make a strong pitch for UN reforms.

In his departure statement, Singh said the India-Africa partnership rests on three pillars of capacity building and skill transfer, trade and infrastructure development.

“It (India-Africa Forum) is designed to respond to the needs and priorities of Africa and for India to learn from Africa’s rich experience. It is based on equality, mutual trust and a consultative and transparent approach. It is a living embodiment of South-South cooperation,” he said.

The Second Africa-India Forum Summit will be a landmark event that will for the first time bring together a large gathering of African leaders to meet with India on African soil.

India has voiced its concerns over the threats posed by Somali pirates since about 11% of seafarers engaged by international shipping cos are Indian nationals, some of whom have been taken hostage.