The mantra of the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre – of inclusive growth for the aam aadmi – today went international with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging African nations to work for global interdependence that would benefit all people. Singh also laid emphasis on regulating the agricultural commodity market while ensuring market access for the poorest producers.
Singh said in the new millennium the world order has changed and globalisation is a reality. “India and Africa have to work together to make global interdependence work for the benefit of all people and particularly for the millions who live in the developing world. This is our next project.”
While inflation remains one of the biggest woes for India, the Prime Minister batted for a mechanism to supervise the commodity derivative markets. “Prices of agricultural commodities remain volatile. The problem is made worse by speculation. The G 20 countries have taken the initiative of supporting work on regulation and supervision of commodity derivative markets. This is an area where India and Ethiopia have vital interests and should cooperate with each other.”
The Ethiopian Parliament – having a similar structure to India’s Parliamentary system with two Houses – greeted Singh’s speech with frequent applauses while he tried to touch the hearts by addressing the aam aadmi issues as well as the social similarities between India and Africa.
Singh listed out the Indian initiatives for Africa before saying that the two sides “must work towards market access for some of the poorest commodity producers in Africa”. “Vulnerable sections of our peasantry need to be protected from the vagaries of the international marketplace. It is imperative that the development dimension of the Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations is not diluted,” The Indian Prime Minister said.
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After announcing and providing resources in the general budget for undertaking a second green revolution in India – in the eastern part of the country to ensure food security – the UPA administrative boss also called upon the African nations to push for a similar thrust in food production. “Our farming communities and scientists should collaborate to usher in a second green revolution,” Singh said, underlining the challenges of food and energy security, health security, sustainable development and climate change.
On an emotional note, Singh also mentioned what Jawaharlal Nehru had said in 1936 after Abyssinia was invaded.
Piracy and terrorism
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants the United Nations to take the lead to tackle the piracy issue off Somalia’s Red Sea coast. Addressing the Ethiopian Parliament, Singh said international piracy was a “well organized industry” in this region.
“The Horn of Africa is today faced with threats from piracy and terrorism. It is important that the United Nations takes the lead in developing a comprehensive and effective response to this threat.”
The PM also offered to continue work with other nations to curb the threat of piracy and terrorism. “We would all like the Indian Ocean to remain a secure link between Asia and Africa through which international maritime trade can take place unhindered.”
India is also pushing for restoration of law and order in Somalia with the help of international groups. Taking advantage of the political instability, insurgent groups are even trying to disturb neighbouring Ethiopia, a hub of Indian investments in Africa with their demand of a Greater Somaliland.