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Transcript of Special Briefing on President's State Visit to Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi (October 09, 2024)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

October 09, 2024

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this Special Briefing by Secretary (ER), Shri Dammu Ravi and Secretary (CPV, OIA & Gulf), Shri Arun Chatterjee on Rashtrapati Ji's upcoming State visit to Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi. Also joining us on the dais, we have Additional Secretary (Central & West Africa), Shri Sevala Naik and Joint Secretary (WANA), Shri Suresh Kumar. With that, I invite Secretary (ER) sir to make his opening remarks for the visit.

Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER): Thank you, Randhir, and good afternoon to all of you. I would like to put the context of the honorable Rashtrapati ji's visit to Africa, and then we will have specific briefing by the Secretary (CPV) on Algiers, and thereafter I'll do on Mauritania and also Malawi.

The importance of the visit has to be seen in the context of Africa as a continent and how India wishes to engage and looking at having a stronger partnership with Africa. It's a reflection of India-Africa growing partnership. It is coming at a time when the African Union has become a permanent member of the G20 during India's presidency of the G20 last year, and now it's a full member.

Africa constitutes 54 countries, and this is the core of the Global South. And as you know, the Prime Minister has taken a lot of interest in driving the Global South agenda. Voice of the Global South meetings have been happened over the virtual format, last three occasions in which the agenda of the development was put in the forefront of the global discourse. Rising India in the 21st century, we believe that partnership with Africa is very, very important and very critical for our own growth and for the growth of the Global South. It makes it very imperative for us.

Africa, for another reason, is also very important, the partnership, because of diverse issues and areas, one of which is the diaspora presence, 33.2 million Indian strong diaspora is present in Africa. We have shared values with the continent in terms of the freedom, liberty, democracy, and people-to-people contacts. The economic partnership between India and Africa is growing. Trade is almost like $100 billion now annually, and investments are close to $70 to $80 billion. Several Indian companies are present across Africa. The development partnership is a very important component of our relationship with Africa, including the lines of credit, grants, and capacity building. Africa is a mineral resource-rich continent, all that Indian industry requires for its growth. Also, the critical minerals is very important here.

There have been several exchanges in the past, both at the Head of State, Head of Government level. There have been several Ministerial visits, official visits have been taking place. And in the context of the African Union becoming a permanent member of the G20, we need to work closely with the African Union and the African countries to drive the agenda of the development globally and also in the UN. Rashtrapati ji's visit provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to strengthen our relationship with Africa even deeper. Thank you. And I'll ask my colleague, Arun Chatterjee, to talk about Algiers now.

Shri Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA): Thank you, Randhir. I also thank Secretary (ER) for giving a brief overview of India's relations with Africa. A very good afternoon to all friends from the media. I shall be briefing you on the upcoming visit of Honorable Rashtrapati ji to Algeria, which will be the first country of her three-nation State visit.

At the invitation of President of People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, His Excellency Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Honorable Rashtrapati Ji will be undertaking a State visit to Algeria from 13 to 15 October 2024. This will be the first ever visit by the President of India to Algeria and a visit at the level of Head of State or Head of Government after 39 years. Also, this visit would be taking place within a month after President Tebboune's swearing-in for his second term in office.

As Secretary (ER) just mentioned, coming to the context of this visit, I will focus primarily on Algeria. And I want to stress that India and Algeria have very strong bonds of friendship. Our relations have been warm and cordial. We supported each other's freedom movements and struggle against colonialism. Algeria, as you know, is the largest country in Africa and also has one of the largest economies in Africa. The trade, economic, and cultural relations between India and Algeria have seen significant growth in recent years. There is regular political engagement between India and Algeria. Honorable Vice President of India, Shri Hamid Ansari Ji, visited Algeria in October 2016. Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan Ji visited Algeria in September 2021. From the Algerian side, their Foreign Minister paid a bilateral visit to India in January-February 2019. The visit of Honorable Rashtrapati Ji will actually enable us in continuing with this high-level political dialogue between India and Algeria, and is expected to further enhance our cooperation in the fields of fertilizers, oil and gas, railways, and defence; as Algeria provides several prospects and opportunities in these sectors. We recently opened our defence wing at our Embassy in Algiers, and Algeria has now also opened their defence wing in New Delhi.

Now let me turn to the program of Honorable Rashtrapati Ji. She will arrive in Algiers in the late afternoon of 13th October, where she will be accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honor. She will thereafter attend an Indian community reception that evening. Next day, on 14th of October, Honorable Rashtrapati Ji will begin her engagements by paying her respects at the Maqam Echahid, which is a memorial built in honor of the martyrs of the Algerian War of Independence. She will thereafter have a Tête-à-tête with President Tebboune, which will be followed by delegation level talks and a banquet hosted by President Tebboune in honor of Honorable Rashtrapati Ji.

In the afternoon that very day, she will address the Algeria-India Economic Forum. She will thereafter receive the President of the Council of Nation, His Excellency Mr. Salah Goudjil followed by President of the National People's Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Boughali. These are Algeria's Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. On the last and final day of the visit, which is on 15th of October, Honorable Rashtrapati Ji will visit the Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole which is actually a hub of universities, where an honorary doctorate will be conferred upon her. She will thereafter be visiting the Seawater Desalination Project at Wilaya of Tipaza. She will be inaugurating an India Center at the Hamma Garden at Jardin d'essai in Algiers by planting saplings from India. Honorable Rashtrapati Ji will depart Algeria for Mauritania on the morning of 16th October.

I would now like to stop here. If you have any questions, I will be very happy to take them once Secretary (ER) has briefed. Thank you.

Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER): Thank you, Arun, and I'll continue with the next two legs of Honorable Rashtrapati Ji. She will arrive in Mauritania on the 16th of October in the morning. This is, again, the first Indian leader at that highest level to visit Mauritania since it won its independence in 1960; and it is also happening at a time when Mauritania is currently holding the Chairship of the African Union. So its timing is very important for us, and we see this as a great opportunity for both India and Mauritania to even deepen the bilateral relationship.

So the program of the Honorable Rashtrapati Ji includes a warm welcome by the President Mohamed Ghazouani. He will welcome her. It includes a tête-à-tête meeting between the two leaders, and then there's a delegation level talks, after which four Memoranda of Understanding will be signed in the areas of culture, foreign office institutions of both the countries, Foreign Office Consultations, and the Visa Waiver Agreements for Diplomatic and Official passport holders. Later, Honorable Rashtrapati Ji will have a courtesy call by the Prime Minister of Mauritania and also the Foreign Minister. She will address the Indian community. There's a very small number of 100 to 150 Indians living in Mauritania. She will address them, and then the President will host a banquet in her honor that evening.

Again, putting in the context the importance of Mauritania, it's a very large country. It's almost one third of India's size, a small population, but has immense natural resources that are important for our own growing industry, rich in iron ore, copper, gold, lithium, phosphate, and diamonds; and has potential for Indian investments also in the energy sector, particularly in oil reserves, there's a huge opportunity. The large landmass that it has, gives Indian companies opportunities in the agriculture investments and also in the renewable sector. So there's a lot of opportunity for mining sector. There are Indian companies which are also actively involved in the mining, particularly in the phosphate mining, which is, again, important for the fertilizers in the days to come.

So these are the areas on which there will be focus during the visit in terms of the economic cooperation. India opened its mission in June 2021 in its capital, Nouakchott and Mauritania is yet to open. It operates right from Abu Dhabi, but I think it's planning to open in India. We have a very strong bilateral cooperation in development assistance, but that is growing still. We have provided assistance and a lot more to come in the days to come. The bilateral trade is about $150 million between the two countries. And this is also opportune time for both countries to put the agenda of the development in the forefront. There will be talk on the UN Security Council, India's own membership, and also non-permanent membership seat for 2028-29.

Let me take you to the Malawi visit. That evening, Honorable Rashtrapati Ji will travel to Malawi, and she will land on the 17th morning in Malawi. She will be welcomed by the President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera. And she will have a very close tête-à-tête meeting, and the program indicates, there will be delegation level talks. There will be a business event, which Honorable President will address. She will also address the Indian diaspora, and there will be three MoUs that will be signed in cooperation in youth affairs, sports, and cultural exchange program.

As you know, this is also the first visit by Rashtrapati Ji to Malawi. There have been earlier visits, but at the Vice President level, and at the Ministerial level, and official level. India established diplomatic relations with Malawi in 1964, soon after its independence. The trade between our two countries is something between $150 to $250 million, but it's somewhat varying because of the COVID situation. It had come down because of that, but Indian companies are already strongly present. Our investment in Malawi is about $500 million. It's an LDC country, enjoys a lot of market access into India, particularly for its pigeon peas, we have opened up to give over 50,000 metric tons. Also, Malawi is important in terms of its mineral resource rich country. It has several resources that are useful for our own industry. The timing of the visit is important, and I want you to note that it is the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between India and Malawi.

So the visit also will reiterate the importance that India attaches to Africa, and not only within Africa, but also bilaterally that we attach importance to Malawi. So in the development cooperation, assistance has been very strong so far, almost like $400 million, we have assisted to Malawi, ranging various sectors, sugar factory, fuel storage facility, the cotton ginneries, processing plants, and capacity building.

During the time, there will be announcements by Rashtrapati Ji in four significant areas, setting up of a permanent artificial limb fitment camp in Malawi, donation of 1,000 artificial limbs, handing over of 1,000 metric tons of rice to Malawi, as it recently was affected by El Nino there, and the soft launch of the Bhabhatron Cancer Treatment Mission to Malawi. Also, we will take the opportunity to have the announcement on the allotment of a land for Indian Chancery building there. That will come up. Malawi is very actively utilizing the ITEC program of India, about 1,100 ITEC scholarships we offer to Malawi on an annual basis, and that's been very actively utilized. So, the diaspora is strong. There are about 15,000 Indian diaspora in Malawi in various fields, and they're actively involved.

So, on the whole, the visit is an opportune occasion for deepening and strengthening India-Africa relationship in a broader context, but bilaterally and individually, we are focusing in even strengthening the relation with each of these African countries. I thank you, and if there are any questions, we will be happy to answer.

Yeshi: This is Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. Sir, these three countries, where President is visiting, have a fair amount of trade with India. Has the trade in local currency started, because a lot of African nations are trading in local currencies with India? Can you just throw light on that, please?

Sidhant: Hi sir, Sidhant from WION. Sir, any of these three countries have shown interest in becoming member of the BRICS, and what is our stance? And the second question is, two countries where the President is going, Algeria and Mauritania, are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a grouping that is known for its anti-India stance. Now, how does India's engagement with these two countries helps, of course, us in terms of dealing with OIC's propaganda against India?

Pranay: Sir, Pranay Upadhyaya from Amar Ujala. Extending what Sidhant has asked, last year Algeria was disappointed by not being invited to join the BRICS, and there was some finger pointing towards India as well. Since President's visit is preceding the BRICS Summit, so are we supporting Algeria's candidature and are we helping that? And the other point on the India-Algeria relationship, recently the Algerian Ambassador met the Indian Defence Secretary. What kind of defence cooperation possibilities we are looking at as far as the India-Algeria relations are concerned?

Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER): So, well, I'll ask my colleague to answer some of the questions, but let me first come to the item on the BRICS. So, you know, this is a process. The expansion of the BRICS is a process, and it started off during the Chairship of South Africa last year, and some countries could get in. And, you know, the process of expansion is based on a consensus basis. All the countries will have to agree. For some reason or the other, Algeria was not part of the first wave of the expansion, but it is very much a candidate in the second wave. So we'll have to see how it goes. It's just not India supporting it, I think, all the member countries will have to take a call as to who can come in this expansion of the BRICS. So we'll leave it at that, because the Kazan Summit is due on 22nd onwards. So the major decisions will be taken about the expansion in Kazan, where the Prime Minister will be representing the country. And so we will leave it at that.

In terms of the local currency, again, our effort has always been to bilaterally engage, to get them to do trading, trade settlement in local currency. This process is on. It will not happen overnight, because they are all technical issues, the country's willingness, and the community's interests. So it's a process. But we have been very successful with some countries in Africa, and with some countries, it is still in the process. Very much so, as I understand, countries in Africa are keen to look at alternatives, trade settlement in alternative currencies. UPI, for example, the Unified Payment Interface has become very attractive for many countries. So it's a work in progress. We should be able to engage with them more deeply on these concepts, particularly national currency trading and the UPI. We'll get some clarity in course of time.

I will ask my colleague Arun Chatterjee to answer the rest of the questions. Thank you.

Shri Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA): First to address your question on defence cooperation, defence is an evolving area of cooperation between India and Algeria, and has been found to be one of the prospective fields where both sides can cooperate. What we are at this moment looking at is organization of training programs for Algerian defence personnel over here. We are looking at exchanges of visits at senior defence levels, defence exports from India to Algeria. Then we can have cooperation at the defence think tank levels on discussing research and other defence areas. We can have seminars between the defence personnel. We're also looking at bilateral joint exercises. It could be at the naval level. It could be at the armed forces level. So these are the areas which we are looking at, at this moment. And hopefully, we should be able to concretize them in the coming days.

As far as the issue of OIC is concerned, both at Mauritania as well as at the Algerian level, we have taken up our concerns. And both are sympathetic, and they are very much aware of our position on the issues that come up with OIC. And we have generally found support from both the countries on the matters that are sensitive to us. So this much, I can assure you. Thank you.

Abhishek: Hi sir, this is Abhishek Jha. My question is regarding Malawi. President's visit is happening at a time when Malawi is dealing with a lot of economic crisis. India also has about $110 million of loan. So will we see new credit lines also extended to Malawi or the old debt being restructured, something this is also on the agenda of President?

Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER): Thank you. You know, the post-COVID time, and many countries in the world are facing a serious economic crisis, particularly in Africa. There's been a serious foreign reserves crunch in many of the countries. So it caused a lot of stress on their reserves. So there is a problem, and we recognize it. So, one of the issues that we are now talking about is how do we help these countries to overcome the problems. So there is an effort towards considering the request for restructuring of the debt. I think we are positive on that. It's in the process. Our internal process will take time, because it goes through both the Ministry of External Affairs internally and then to the Department of Economic Affairs. But it is under positive consideration at this point of time. Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: With that, we come to the closure of this Special Briefing. The visit begins on 13th, so please stay tuned with Ministry of External Affairs, social media handles, and also directly in touch with us to get more updates on the visit. Thank you very much.