India is working closely with Africa to enhance cooperation and setting up educational institutions in the continent

Updated on: Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said, India is working closely with Africa to enhance cooperation and will set up educational institutions in the continent.

While addressing the CII-EXIM Bank conclave on India-Africa partnership here he said, "we are committed to build Indian Institute of Foreign Trade campus in Uganda, and India Africa institute of information technology in Ghana ... India and Africa have identified priority sector."

He said more than 50,000 African students are studying in India, of which 15,000 are getting Indian scholarship.

"India and Africa are engaged in different manner today then when they were few years ago. India is building 70 institutions in Africa together," Sharma said.

India and Africa together account for a huge market of 2.2 billion people with a combined GDP of more than USD 3 trillion.

Over the years, the bilateral cooperation has diversified across several sectors such as agriculture, education, health, skill building and infrastructure.

India is Africa's fourth largest trading partner and a significant investor across the continent. Bilateral trade touched USD 57 billion in 2011, and is targeted to reach USD 90 billion by 2015.

India is working closely with Africa to enhance cooperation and setting up educational institutions in the continent

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