Linking Africa and India - new media

INITIATIVEamongst Indian businessmen through their publications,bulletins and other periodicals regarding potentialIndian exports to Africa. They will also organizeseminars and workshops at regular intervals at variousindustrial centers to create awareness regarding theuntapped potential that exists in the region for exportinggoods.INDIAN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN AFRICAPROFILES OFTHE SEVENF O C U SCOUNTRIESETHIOPIAEthiopia, witha population of65.8 million,accounted for aGDP of $ 6.2billion, growing at an impressive 7.7 per cent. India's worth $ 15.99bilateral trade with Ethiopia was $10.46 million in 2003million in 2003, upagainst $ 18.44 million in 2002. Ethiopian imports fromfrom $3.27 in 2002India consist mainly of steel and iron. It exports to Indiawhile its exportsraw hides and skins, cotton and pulses.touched $ 163.5,GHANAthe previous year's $32.02 million. Kenya imports drugsand pharmaceuticals, machinery and metals productsfrom India and exports inorganic chemicals, pulses andtea among other products.S O U T HAFRICAThe Indian missions located in African countries havebeen instructed to organize catalogue/brochureexhibitions, provide regular feedback on implementationof the programme, play a proactive role in coordinatingpromotional measures like organization of Buyer-Seller-Meets, visit of delegations and participation in tradefairs, carry out market surveys for the specified productsin collaboration with the ITPO and concerned EPCs andsend processed/usable information in bulletins to theEPCs on focus productsSouth Africa,w i t h apopulation of43.2 millionaccounted for aGDP of $ 113.3billion in 2001at an annualgrowth rate of1.2 per cent. Indian exports to South Africa accounted for$471.34 million at the end of March 2003 up 33.23 percent over the previous year's $353.77 million. Rice, worth$132.86 million, was the main commodity that wasimported.MARITIUSMauritius, with a population of 1.2 million (Year 2001)accounted for aGDP of $ 4.5 billionon an annualgrowth of 6.1 percent. Indiaimported productsslightly more thanthe previous year's $165 million. Mauritius importsmainly cotton from India and exports pearls, preciousGhana is acountry with a stones to this country..population of NIGERIA19.7 million, anda GDP of $ 5.3Nigeria, with a population of 129.9 million posted a GDPbillion, whichof $ 41.2 billion in 2001 at an annual growth rate of 1.5has been growingper cent. India's exports to Nigeria accounted for $445.7at an average 4.0million in 2003, down from $564.47 million in theper cent per year.previous year. India's imports from Nigeria in 2003India's bilateralamounted to $77.05 million against $ 87.million in thetrade with Ghanaprevious year. India exported to Nigeria machinery,stood at $ 18.4 million as on March 2003, down fromvehicles and electrical equipment and imported from$19.97 million in 2002. India imports wood and woodthat country wood and wood products and metal scrap.products and metal scrap from Ghana. Drugs and TANZANIApharmaceuticals, cotton yarn and fabrics, machinery andTanzania , with a population of 34.5 million accountedmetal productsfor a GDP of $9.3 billion, with an annual growth of 2.9 perKENYAcent in 2001. India's exports to Tanzania accounted forKenya, with a population of 30.8 million, posted a GDP of$114.5 million in 2003, up from $90.99 million in the$11.4 billion in 2001 (the latest available), whichprevious year. India's imports stood at $90.31 million inregistered a negative (minus) growth of 0.9 per cent 2003, up from $76.27 million in the previous year. Indiaduring the year. India's bilateral trade with Kenya stood atexported cotton fabrics, machinery and pharmaceuticals$33.13 million in March 2003, marginally higher thanwhile it imported cashew nuts and precious and semipreciousstones from Tanzania.INDO-AFRICAN BUSINESS 14August-October 2004