This summit was clearly an attempt to compete with China in Africa, which is miles ahead in every way. The Africa-China summit of 2006 was far more impressive with leaders from over 40 african countries as opposed to representatives from 14 countries in the Indian imitation

What a shame the peoples army cannot yet go to delhi and mumbai and teach the indian savages a lesson.

Competing with China !! How dare they ! What a joke these stinky indians are – its bad enough they eat these disgusting messes – now they think they can compete with the true masters of asia! Soon we will make them kow-tow or at least nuke a few of their cities….

Typical Indian bombast that is completely out of touch with reality. This is a fine example of “free speech” in India: a license to lie, exaggerate, boast outrageously. How completely moronic to claim that India-Africa trade can go from $ 9 billion to $ 500 billion in 5 years! Thats more than half of India’s total GDP. Manipulating figures isnt going to make India “play a far more prominent role in Africa’s economic development than China” anytime soon.

This summit was clearly an attempt to compete with China in Africa, which is miles ahead in every way. The Africa-China summit of 2006 was far more impressive with leaders from over 40 african countries as opposed to representatives from 14 countries in the Indian imitation. Africa-China trade today stands at around $ 73 billion. Thats close to double the India-China trade (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2706372.cms) which too is growing rapidly and which has now made China the largest trading partner of India, supplanting America.

what a curious story! thanks

for a site that’s supposedly all about broadening understanding of the diaspora, why are there so many people who operate with such limited knowledge of these issues?

That doesn’t really follow. Many of us might be ignorant, but at least we come with a desire to learn.

and if you still don’t think we’re Indians, then please can you pass laws in India to stop sending us your second rate exports.

I daresay that some Fijian-Indians love the exports that you mention. Their pleasure, your poison.

Professor Praveen Jha, a United Nations adviser, said that in eight of India’s 17 states, poverty was increasing. “In malnutrition, India’s record is worse than most of sub-Saharan Africa,” he said. “My request to Indian officials is: please address things in your own country first.”

Whoever this professor dude is, he already lost my attention. India’s 17 states? It’s 28 states and 7 UTs, Mr. Professor.

“India deprives own poor in bid to be aid donor”

“A BRITISH plan to help India become a leading aid donor despite being home to a third of the world’s poor has been fiercely criticised by campaigners in both countries.”

“Last week British officials said that although India desperately needs aid to curb extreme poverty, it regards itself as a rising global power and wants to be seen as a donor rather than a recipient. Even though Britain gives more aid to India than any other country, it will in future be regarded as a “global partner” in poverty reduction, rather than a poor beneficiary of UK charity.”

“The plan has met with disbelief among the antipoverty campaigners in India, who say that the country should put its own house in order before taking on the problems of Africa.

They said the scale of India’s poverty was so great that all available resources and talent should be focused on helping its own people first. “India should not be distracted with helping other countries meet their goals when it has so far to go to meet its own,” said Ashok Agarwal, a lawyer and child poverty campaigner.

Professor Praveen Jha, a United Nations adviser, said that in eight of India’s 17 states, poverty was increasing. “In malnutrition, India’s record is worse than most of sub-Saharan Africa,” he said. “My request to Indian officials is: please address things in your own country first.”

I just think it’s interesting that with all the ignorance put on display above, it’s my ‘confusion’ that draws your comments.

Getting back to this article, do you guys think that India’s efforts to create closer ties with African countries is a waste of money?

Then you’d probably agree with this

If India is to be the superpower that everyone on this board already thinks it is, then I hope you can all see why maintaining ties to people with a historical connection to India makes sense, for all sorts of reasons, including economic.

and if you still don’t think we’re Indians, then please can you pass laws in India to stop sending us your second rate exports. Hmmm, I wonder… do they pay taxes in India on the money they earn in Fiji?

I’m so tired of bringing up Mittal’s example. Most people don’t know that his first international acquisition was a de-nationalized steel mill in Trinidad… put him on the road to the top.

Reality is, we need each other. And like it or not, India has a responsibility toward other developing countries, not just those with Indians in them.

And if you’re going to say, “great, who’s going to pay for it”… then I have to wonder why you never ask the same for the money spent on the nuclear weapons program.

In my book, developing closer ties to the diaspora will take India a great deal further than the increase in ‘stature’ that militarization brings.