Some stakeholders have identified collaboration and strategic partnerships as essential to tackling global challenges, driving economic growth, and fostering innovation, and youth empowerment.

Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adebayo Thomas, said this at the 19th CII India-Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Nura Rimi and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Aisha Rimi, attended the conclave.

Other Nigerian delegates included Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Dr Femi Ogunyemi and the Director of Human Resource Management at NEPZA, Haleema Kamba. 

The director said that the meeting featured high-level discussions on strengthening India-Africa ties, with notable addresses from the vice presidents of Gambia, Liberia, and Zimbabwe.

Mr Thomas said this edition of the conclave aimed to serve as an instrument for Africa’s growth and the role of India-Africa partnership in regional and global value chain integration.

He said, “Besides bilateral, trilateral, and regional discussions, the conclave focused on key areas of collaboration and emerging opportunities in agriculture, food processing, defence, digital partnership, financial partnership, healthcare pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, power and energy. The conclave also focused on quality ecosystem, and skill capacity development.’’

The director said the conclave retained elements of business conferences, exhibitions, and B2B meetings, with product inaugurations introduced to reflect the AAA approach of Indian business towards Africa – Affordable, Adaptable, and Appropriate.

(NAN)