The Africa-India Business Council today asked governments of both the nations to consider providing long-term multiple entry visas to bonafide businessmen in a bid to boost bilateral trade.
The council, which met here for the second meeting of the Africa-India Business Council, deliberated on consolidating and exploring mutually beneficial economic engagement between the two sides.
The council members said governments of both the sides should consider providing long term (1-2 year) multiple entry visas to bonafide businessmen on the recommendation of the apex chambers of commerce and industry of India and recognised private sector groups in Africa.
The council meeting, led by Acting Co-Chair, AIBC from Africa Bright Chunga and Co-Chair AIBC from India Sunil Bharti Mittal, also agreed that visa and connectivity are the two important aspects that have to be worked upon on a priority basis in order to deepen the engagement between both the sides.
The council members said they would recommend to governments of both the sides to make renewed efforts to bring about greater connectivity between India and Africa, especially by air and sea.
Besides, recognising the need to promote industrialisation
in Africa, the members agreed to explore opportunities for value addition at source in their agenda for investment cooperation.
The Africa-India Business Council members also interacted with the Trade Ministers from Africa and India.
They assured the policy makers of their support in achieving the vision that leaders have set for mutual growth and also sought the support of the governments in achieving the true potential for economic growth.
Supplementing on-going and future programmes of India and Africa at the bilateral, regional and other levels, the Africa-India Business Council members agreed to meet alongside the next Africa-India Trade Ministers meeting in India.
The council took note of the progress made since its first meeting held in March last year in New Delhi and appreciated that Africa-India engagements have intensified with progress achieved across the board on different areas.
Members of the five working groups discussed their agenda for the coming year and recommended concrete action plan to promote engagements at bilateral, sub-regional and pan-Africa level to further trade, investment, technology transfer, skills development, capacity building, SME development etc.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, who is in Johannesburg to attend the third India-Africa Trade Ministers meeting, said economic engagement has been a buoyant one as investments from India to Africa has crossed USD 50 billion in the last decade and trade has crossed USD 70 billion.
Sharma added the bilateral trade target of USD 90 billion by 2015 is modest and achievable.
