Diplomatist Magazine Africa Day Special 2018 | Page 52

register impressive growth and reduce poverty.
To ensure that this happens, there is need to
march in step to the same drummer, and dance
to the same tune. After all, India is hardly a
poster child of neoliberalism. India has not
only fared better in dealing with a fi nancial
crisis but also as a country registered credible
levels of growth while developed countries
have slumped. Yet, while the example of India
is appealing, there is a need for realism on the
part of African countries so as to correctly read
the evolving trends in the global order and
not merely exchange one set of asymmetrical
relations (those with the West) for another
(new relations with the East). Just as India
is increasing investments in Africa, African
states, entrepreneurs, and private sector actors
also need to raise African investments in
India far above the currently limited levels.
The key, then, would be to have a visionary
African leadership with a clear and coordinated
strategy at the continental level to engage with
the emerging Asian giant from a stronger and
well-informed platform in order to contribute
to Africa’s development in the twenty-first
century. 
References:
Cheru, F., & Obi, C. (2011). India–
Africa relations in the 21st century: Genuine
partnership or a marriage of convenience.
India in Africa: Changing geographies of
power, 12-29.
48 • Africa Day Special • 2018
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Pedersen, J. D. (2008). Globalisation,
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Shah, S. and V Ramamoorthy, V. (2014),
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Tandon, Y. (2008). Ending Aid Dependence,
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* Author is Research Focused Professor,
Namibia University of Science and Technology,
Namibia and can be reached at neetajb@
rediffmail.com