New Delhi: NITI Aayog organized a workshop on India-AU Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Development in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) at the Taj Palace, New Delhi, as part of a recent initiative following the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration (NDLD) at the G20 Conference.
The workshop, featuring the participation of over 50 experts from notable national and international think tanks, academia, and diplomats, aimed to foster cooperation in key areas such as Inclusive Growth, Sustainable Infrastructure, and Migration Management.
Dr. V K Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, highlighted the potential for knowledge and resource exchange between India and the African Union (AU) and urged participants to formulate tangible proposals for collaboration in the areas of inclusive growth, sustainable infrastructure, and migration management.
Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog, emphasized the significance of agricultural growth and the opportunities for mutual learning between the two regions. He stressed the value of sharing experiences in agriculture and agribusiness, including research, technology transfer, and market access.
Dammo Ravi, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), underlined the importance of India-AU cooperation in trade, investment, and development. In his address, Sudhendu J. Sinha, Advisor, NITI Aayog, emphasized the joint efforts of India and the African Union (AU) to achieve the objectives outlined in the NDLD.
The workshop facilitated extensive discussions on three main themes:
- Indo-AU collaboration for an inclusive world: Participants explored strategies for promoting inclusive growth and development, reducing poverty and inequality, and ensuring access to basic necessities like food, water, healthcare, and education.
- Indo-AU collaboration for sustainable and resilient infrastructure: Cooperation was discussed in the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including energy, transportation, and water management, with an emphasis on supporting economic growth and resilience to climate change and other challenges.
- Managing Migration: The role of Indo-AU Partnership: Deliberations centered on managing migration in a safe, orderly, and humane manner, addressing the root causes of migration, providing support to migrants and refugees, and combating human trafficking.
The workshop received enthusiastic engagement from participants who provided valuable insights. NITI Aayog is committed to using these inputs to develop an Action Plan to advance the implementation of commitments made in the NDLD.