INTERVIEW
who have shown outstanding performance and tenacity in
developing successful businesses in the Asian and African
regions.
We would be shortly announcing the biggest Trade &
Investment Summit, i.e., Asian African Trade & Investment
Summit (AATIS 2019), the largest forum for global
investment opportunities, and biggest ever trade show, B2B
and B2G meetings. An extravaganza engaging world leaders
& diplomats, the movers and shakers of global business,
corporate gurus, fortune writers, global investors, dynamic
entrepreneurs, seasoned professionals and consultants, fi lm
and television celebrities, and many more will participate in
the event.
Wh are the key priorities of the chamber?
What
Serving our members’ needs is the primary reason for
S
the e existence of the Chamber. Secondly, the representatives
are a vital resource through which we will accomplish our
objectives. Hence, our key priorities would be to appoint our
representatives in all the 102 countries by the end of 2020.
Thirdly, we seek to establish meaningful partnerships with
multilateral organisations across both the continents , a top
priority for the success of the chamber.
Q
In
sectors do you see the most investment
n which
w
oppo
po
opportunities
in Africa, especially for Indian
com
companies?
W
We see the opportunities in sectors like agriculture,
banking, consumer goods, infrastructure, mining, oil & gas,
and telecommunications.
Q
How has the perception of Africa evolved among your
mem
em
members?
Africa has continued to be looked down upon by the
A
Wes
West
Western powers. Negative perceptions and representations
such as civil wars, hunger, corruption, greed, selfi shness,
disease, poverty, and the like have been the defining
characteristics of Africa and the Africans in the minds of
many Western people.
There is no question that one of the signifi cant reasons for
Africa’s lack of growth over the last 10–15 years is because
of macro-economic policies have [sic] improved. The reason
for this is that African policy-makers followed Structural
Adjustment Programmes over the last 10 – 15 years. It
worked, it delivered results. It achieved economic growth
and poverty reduction.
One would be impressed by the tremendous changes that
mark economic performance in countries that were serious
about reform. The overall growth rates are robust; budgets are
far more disciplined, agricultural prices have been liberalised,
market-driven exchange systems are universal, governments
have been downsized, regulations have been reduced, there
is broad emergence of a more productive private sector and
increased resources have been deployed to expand programs
in education and health. I fi rmly believe that history will
conclude that the long-term impact of the painful reforms that
marked the 80s and 90s in Africa has been overwhelmingly
positive.
Africa is on the cusp of tremendous change, with the
recent agreements on the establishment of the African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Protocol on
the Free Movement of Persons and the launch of the Single
African Air Transport Market.
Ongoing continental-level efforts to facilitate intra-
African mobility, trade, investment and technology must
complement the positive contribution of African migrants to
the economies of origin and destination countries.
Q
Wha
ha is the biggest synergy and priority you see today
What
betw
tw
between
Asia and Africa?
T
The Asian economy, especially East Asian economy
h has proven resilient over the years, in turn helping push
the global economy. Africa, meanwhile, is still treading on
the path to growth. Its young demography and economics
require integration and expansion into Asia’s value chains of
production. Together, Asia and Africa represent 70 percent of
the global population and 37 percent of global GDP.
The signifi cant synergies between Asia & Africa are
primarily into Agriculture & Animal Resources, Capacity
Building in Defence sector, Dairy Cooperation, Leather &
Allied Sectors, Auto Sector, Bullet trains, projects on rice,
cotton, solar energy and new information technologies.
The next decade will be an opportunity for both regions to
realise their economic and social potential as well as deepen
their capacities and institutional strengths. As developing
regions, both continents are expected to promote healthy,
balanced, sustainable and inclusive growth at national and
international levels, and to actively cooperate in narrowing
existing development gaps and addressing common economic
and social challenges. The Asia–Africa Growth Corridor
(AAGC) is the chosen pathway to reach these goals.
The Asian & African top priorities should be on
development and cooperation projects; quality infrastructure
and institutional connectivity; enhancing capacities and skills
& people to people partnership.
Q
How is the year 2019 slated to be for your chamber?
T
The critical areas of focus for our chamber would include
Mem
Membership Drive and few business and leadership forums
for
or th
the Asian & African leaders. Additionally, we would be
creating new committees within our group which will provide
members with appropriate marketing tools to promote their
business through welcome packets, mailer newsletters,
websites and more.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 4 • April-May 2019, Noida • 61