New Delhi: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Thursday said India is committed to working with Mali to achieve the goals of ensuring inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Addressing a banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the honour of visiting President of the Republic of Mali Amadou Toumani Toure and his wife Toure Lobbo Traore, the President also assured them of India’s continued support and cooperation in its quest for faster socio-economic development through technical cooperation and financial and material assistance.
Noting that India has had historic ties with Africa, the President said, “India considers it a privilege to be a partner in Africa’s development process. India is committed to working with Mali, to achieve the goals of ensuring inclusive growth and sustainable development.
“We would be happy to assure Mali of our continued support and cooperation in its quest for faster socio-economic development, through technical cooperation and financial and material assistance.”
In this context, the President announced the recent grant from India of a line of credit of 100 million dollars for a power transmission project in Mali.
“We hope this will contribute in strengthening power availability in Mali and will be a step forward in its economic development,” the President said.
The President said India and Mali shared a tradition of warm and friendly relations, which went a long way back. “We share a tradition of warm and friendly relations which go a long way back. Both our countries are members of the Non Aligned Movement and share common views on many global issues. Mali’s continued support to India in the world fora is much appreciated by India,” Ms Patil added.
In this regard, she noted that bilateral economic and trade relations between India and Mali have grown in recent years.
“Our bilateral trade has increased from 46 million dollars to 77 million dollars in the last two years. We believe there is scope for further increasing our trade volume. Furthermore, given Mali’s substantial mineral wealth, livestock potential and cotton and agricultural production, there is more than ample scope for diversification and enhancement of the bilateral trade between the two countries.
“We look forward to concrete efforts in this direction, by the business and investor communities of the two countries, to fully realise the potential of Indo-Malian trade and investments,” Ms Patil said.
She said discussions between the two sides today had been extremely fruitful.
“We have laid the groundwork for a future course of action for cooperation in diverse areas, sharing India’s experience with our Malian brothers and sisters,” the President said.
She added that Mali presents a befitting example of a stable political entity in Africa.
“The absence of any restrictions on participation of all sections of society in public life presents a picture of a secular and confident Mali, marching ahead on its path to progress and prosperity,” the President said.
Referring to India’s ties with Africa, the President said, “India has had historic ties with Africa, and in recent times these have happily evolved, to tap the opportunities offered by changes taking place in Africa and India.
“As India has demonstrated in the successive India-Africa forum summits held in 2008 and 2011, it is engaging Africa at the bilateral, regional and continental levels, with a view to realise Africa’s vast potential and utilise it for its development.” (UNI)