Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Rwanda and Uganda ahead of BRICS summit in South Africa, MEA Secretary TS Tirumurti said, "We are not competing with China in Africa. Our relationship with Africa goes back to the time of Gandhi." This seems to be a diplomatic way to deny the obvious.
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Rwanda and Uganda ahead of BRICS summit in South Africa, MEA Secretary TS Tirumurti said, "We are not competing with China in Africa. Our relationship with Africa goes back to the time of Gandhi." This seems to be a diplomatic way to deny the obvious.
Chinese monopoly replacing American hegemony over African economy is a cause of concern for India's strategic interests. Hence, it was no surprise that Rwandan Paul Kagame played host to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi on Monday, July 23. PM Modi's visit to Rwanda was the first such visit by an Indian prime minister.
PM Modi signed a few agreements including those on defence cooperation and extended two lines of credit worth $200 million for development and agriculture projects. Compared with Chinese investment in Rwanda, the third fastest growing economy of Africa, the investment promise by India is insignificant but it opens up a new line of engagement in the central African country.
China is the largest economic partner of Rwanda. Over 70 per cent of country's roads have been or are being built by Chinese companies. Chinese investment in Rwanda is in the tune of $400 billion in over 60 projects over last decade or so.
China established diplomatic relations with Rwanda in 1971. On the other hand, Rwanda opened its High Commission in India in 1999 and sent its first High Commissioner in 2001. India is yet to open its High Commission in Rwanda.
Though India's connection with African countries are older compared to Chinese but Beijing has taken big strides on economic and strategic fronts in past two decades. China has outpaced the US as the largest trading partner of Africa. China's trade with Africa reached a record high of $220 billion in 2014.
China is the biggest supplier of arms and weapons to African countries. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPR), China's arms exports to Africa have registered a growth of 55 per cent in five years ending 2017 compared to preceding five years. Recent focus of Chinese arms exports has been Sub-Saharan countries.
India does not export much arms to African countries but it provides training to many countries that buy weapons from China. So, India trains African soldiers carrying Chinese weapons. Sensing an opportunity, China has launched a massive training campaign in Africa. It has opened centres in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi.
India has been the biggest contributor to peacekeeping forces deployed in African countries. India has used the services of peacekeepers as a way to gain support for its claim for permanent membership at United Nations Security Council (UNSC). At the other hand, China used its military cooperation with African countries to deepen its strategic assets on the continent.
PM Modi's visit to Rwanda and Uganda - the second visit of an Indian prime minister - is expected to give a push to economic and strategic ties between Africa and India. But the Modi push is too little and late, howsoever welcome it may be. Compare it with Chinese diplomatic moves.
China has 43 active diplomatic missions in Africa against India's 29. The Modi government recently decided to open 18 new missions across Africa. China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has attracted much support from African countries with Rwanda playing a key role. Rwanda has progressed at over 6 per cent growth rate under President Kagame and emerged as the economic model for other poor Sub-Saharan countries to look at.
After his election in 2013, President Xi Jinping chose Africa for his maiden foreign trip, which he followed up with two more tours during his first tenure. He is back on Africa tour in his second term. India is playing a catch up game in Africa.
Chinese monopoly replacing American hegemony over African economy is a cause of concern for India's strategic interests. Hence, it was no surprise that Rwandan Paul Kagame played host to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi on Monday, July 23. PM Modi's visit to Rwanda was the first such visit by an Indian prime minister.
PM Modi signed a few agreements including those on defence cooperation and extended two lines of credit worth $200 million for development and agriculture projects. Compared with Chinese investment in Rwanda, the third fastest growing economy of Africa, the investment promise by India is insignificant but it opens up a new line of engagement in the central African country.
China is the largest economic partner of Rwanda. Over 70 per cent of country's roads have been or are being built by Chinese companies. Chinese investment in Rwanda is in the tune of $400 billion in over 60 projects over last decade or so.
China established diplomatic relations with Rwanda in 1971. On the other hand, Rwanda opened its High Commission in India in 1999 and sent its first High Commissioner in 2001. India is yet to open its High Commission in Rwanda.
Though India's connection with African countries are older compared to Chinese but Beijing has taken big strides on economic and strategic fronts in past two decades. China has outpaced the US as the largest trading partner of Africa. China's trade with Africa reached a record high of $220 billion in 2014.
China is the biggest supplier of arms and weapons to African countries. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPR), China's arms exports to Africa have registered a growth of 55 per cent in five years ending 2017 compared to preceding five years. Recent focus of Chinese arms exports has been Sub-Saharan countries.
India does not export much arms to African countries but it provides training to many countries that buy weapons from China. So, India trains African soldiers carrying Chinese weapons. Sensing an opportunity, China has launched a massive training campaign in Africa. It has opened centres in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Burundi.
India has been the biggest contributor to peacekeeping forces deployed in African countries. India has used the services of peacekeepers as a way to gain support for its claim for permanent membership at United Nations Security Council (UNSC). At the other hand, China used its military cooperation with African countries to deepen its strategic assets on the continent.
PM Modi's visit to Rwanda and Uganda - the second visit of an Indian prime minister - is expected to give a push to economic and strategic ties between Africa and India. But the Modi push is too little and late, howsoever welcome it may be. Compare it with Chinese diplomatic moves.
China has 43 active diplomatic missions in Africa against India's 29. The Modi government recently decided to open 18 new missions across Africa. China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has attracted much support from African countries with Rwanda playing a key role. Rwanda has progressed at over 6 per cent growth rate under President Kagame and emerged as the economic model for other poor Sub-Saharan countries to look at.
After his election in 2013, President Xi Jinping chose Africa for his maiden foreign trip, which he followed up with two more tours during his first tenure. He is back on Africa tour in his second term. India is playing a catch up game in Africa.