ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY WITH AFRICA

The Initiation of Trade and Commerce with African Countries, by India is moving into a new phase in this period Visa vis the past. India's tryst with African Nations was the support to their sentiments against colonolisation and Racism. The globalized approaches have opened out new Areas of trade and commerce in the African Continent. The compulsions on the part of India to expand its frontiers of commerce obliged the country to focus on Techno economic base in African countries. India's Cultural relationship with African States seamlessly helped thro the non aligned movement when the countries looked up on India's leadership and political will namely democratic values to expand into business value and ethics. The Indian Diaspora in East, West and South Africa has established trade over the past 5 decades in traditional commodities, raw materials. The growth in software, health care and education in India motivated the African countries to seek Indian participation in energy, housing and mining Industries. The Exports from India in the past decade grew in west, South and East Africa as also techno co-operation in energy in North Africa. Thus the role of India in Indo pacific, Asean and west Asia motivated the experts from India not to miss out the opportunities in Africa. If Asia is a focus, at the end of 20th Century, then the 21 st Century belongs to Africa. The trends in commerce will also make India's role in strategic defense areas with Africa.