India – Republic of Congo Relations

India and Republic of Congo [ROC] enjoy warm and friendly relations dating back to pre-independence era of the ROC. ROC has supported India’s candidature at various international forums. Senior Minister of Industrial Development and Private Sector Promotion, Mr. Mvouba Isidore led the ROC delegation to the 10th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership, New Delhi from 9-11 March, 2014. He was accompanied by Ms. Claudine Munari, Minister of Trade, Mr. Alain Akouala, Minister of Economic Zones and Mr. Collinet Makosso, Minister of Youth.

Minister of Trade, Ms. Claudine Munari, Mr. Alain Akouala, Minister of Special Economic Zones and Mr. Anatole C. Makosso, Minister of Youth and Head of the African Union Commission for Youth visited India to participate in the 9th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership held in Delhi from 17-19 March, 2013. She also participated in the 8th Conclave from 18-20 March, 2012.

Minister in the Presidency, in-charge of Special Economic Zone, Mr. Alain Akouala Atipault visited India from 27-29 March, 2011 to participate in the 7th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership held in New Delhi.

Mr. Basile Ikouebe, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, accompanied by senior officials, paid an official visit to India from 13 to 18 March, 2010. During his meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs, the two leaders discussed the whole gamut of bilateral relations. Both sides identified specific areas for expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Mr. Emile Ouosso, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, visited India in July 2007 at the invitation of the Railway Minister. In his capacity as Chairman of the African Transport Ministers Group [53 countries], he mooted a proposal for holding a summit of African Transport Ministers in India. He also held discussions with RITES and Railway Board. Maj. Gen Jacques Yvon Ndolou, Defence Minister visited India in FebruaryMarch 2007 at the invitation of Raksha Mantri. Earlier, Foreign Minister Rodolphe Adada and Commerce Minister Adelaide Angollo visited India in October 2006 and November 2005 respectively.

Agreements/MOUs:

A Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations was signed on 17 March, 2010. The first Consultations were held in Brazzaville on 21 January, 2011. Besides reviewing the existing level of cooperation, the two sides agreed to accelerate mutually beneficial bilateral investment and trade relationship.

India’s Economic assistance to ROC:

Line of Credit:

• A Line of Credit Agreement of US$ 70 million for financing a Rural Electrification Project was signed on 19 December, 2011 by H.E. Mr. Gilbert Ondongo, Minister of Finance, Budget and Public Portfolio, ROC. The Project is progressing well.
• In 2014, the GOI has approved another LOC of US$ 89.9 million for the Development of Transportation System in capital Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.
• In 2014, the GOI also approved another LOCs for US$ 55 million for a Greenfield 600 tpd rotary kiln based Cement Plant Project in ROC.

Grant/Assistance:

• GOI had donated medicines worth US$ 2,00,000 in 2010 to the Government of ROC.
• GOI had donated US$ 500,000 as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief for the blast victims of ordnance depot of ROC, which occurred on 4th March, 2012.
• Tele-education, tele-medicine and VVIP connectivity node have been set up in Brazzaville under the Pan African e-Network Project.

Offers under India Africa Forum Summits:

Under IAFS-II, ROC has been offered setting up of a Rural Technology Park (RTP), Food Testing Laboratory (FTL) and Centre for English Language Training [CELT]. A delegation from Ministry of Food Processing Industries visited the site from 18 to 21 May, 2012 and held discussions with the Government of ROC. Under Africa India Forum Summit–II, the GOI has offered to setting up of an Agricultural Seed Production-cum-Demonstration Centre (ASPDC) in ROC. The Government of ROC has welcomed setting up of the centre.

Capacity Building Programme:

• ITEC Programme: 9 slots were utilised in 2012-13.
• AIFS-II Training: 6 Government officials availed training during 2012-13 and 2 during 2013-14.

Trade and Commercial Relations:

Main items of India’s imports from ROC are metallic ore & metal scrap, organic chemicals, pearls, semi-precious stones, oil seeds and petroleum. Main items of India’s exports to ROC are rice [non-basmati], tea, spirit and beverages, power loom fabrics, pharmaceuticals, meat products, household articles of steel, bicycles, etc. Possibilities of cooperation exist in agriculture, railways, information technology, industry, health, oil and pharmaceutical sectors. ROC has sought India’s assistance in economic, scientific and technical fields, infrastructure sector, railways in particular.

Bilateral trade figures are given below:

(US$ million)

	2006-07	2007- 08	2008-09	2009- 10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Exports	136.15	151.41	209.81	196.2	241.88	347.4	199.12	210.32	252.89
Imports	59.7	104.24	487.28	545.2	543.33	258.91	454.72	89.53	365.52

Indian Community:

There are around 300 Indians living in the country, mainly involved in trading and service sectors.

Note:  Content for this article provided by IAFS.in

India – Republic of Congo Relations

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