India and Africa have often held common positions in global platforms and worked together to guard the interests of other developing countries. They have moved joint proposals, such as the Agricultural Framework Proposal and Protection of Geographical Indications, at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization, and have worked towards protecting the food and livelihood concerns of farmers at the Doha Development Round of WTO negotiations. The ‘Framework for Strategic Cooperation,’ the outcome document of the Third India-Africa Forum Summit, also mentions that India and Africa will “enhance cooperation through training and collective negotiations on global trade issues, including at the WTO to protect and promote the legitimate interests of developing countries, especially the LDCs [least developed countries]”. India and South Africa are also currently pressing for a waiver of certain provisions of the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights for COVID-19 treatment and vaccines.
India and Africa have also coordinated responses in climate action negotiations. Nearly half of all member countries in the International Solar Alliance, initiated by India, are from Africa. India has announced an LoC worth US$ 2 billion to Africa over five years for the implementation of off-grid solar energy projects and is working to develop solar power systems across the Sahel region to provide electricity to approximately half of the 600 million Africans who are currently off-grid.
India has also aided African countries amid crises, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. India has provided 270 metric tons of food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea, and supplied essential to over 25 African countries. The Indian government also organized an e-ITEC training course for healthcare professionals on COVID-19 prevention and management protocols. And even as developed countries have focused on securing large vaccine supplies for their own populations, India is being hailed for its vaccine diplomacy — it has exported over 1.6 crore doses of vaccines globally, of which about 62.7 lakh doses are as grant assistance. Mauritius and Seychelles have received 1 lakh doses and 50,000 doses, respectively, via the grant route.
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