Call for Papers

The Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur and African Studies Association of India (ASA India) in collaboration with Centre for African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, is organizing an international seminar on “Indo-African Relations: Emerging Dimensions, Opportunities and Challenges in 21st Century” which will be held at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, from 24-25 March, 2014.

The concept note is given below. The conference organizers are accepting abstracts for the same. Please submit your abstract (Max.250 words) by 5th of January 2014. The abstract selection will be communicated by 10th of January 2014. All those whose abstracts are accepted need to submit  a draft paper by 15th of February 2014 on both emails given below.

The organiser will be happy to provide free local hospitality to those whose draft papers are received by the due date. The local hospitality will include accommodation for three nights (23-25 March), all meals during conference, conference kits and local transport during conference. There will not be any registration fee to paper presenters.

Pleased send your abstracts to Prof. Ajay Dubey, JNU at conference.asa@gmail.com  copy marked to Dr. Bijay Pratihari, ASA India at asaindia.seminars@gmail.com and Prof Sanjay Lodha, Udaipur, at  sanjay.kishti@gmail.com

Concept Note

International Seminar on

Indo-African Relations: Emerging Dimensions, Opportunities and Challenges in the 21^st Century

Organized by

Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur and  African Studies Association of India (ASA India), JNU, New Delhi

At Udaipur, on 24^th & 25^th March 2014

India and Africa witnessed a new turn in their relationship under globalisation. The advent of globalisation threw new directions, imperatives and parameters of international relations. India and Africa underwent Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and both shifted their priorities from South-South linkages to global integration. 

Certainly, India’s attractiveness as an alternative development partner in Africa has been widely noted. The strength of India’s relations with African countries and the source of much of its soft power are derived from more than just its recent growth in trade and investment. Throughout its history of co-operation with African nations, India has emphasized that it has “given what it could” in terms of financial aid and technical support. India has actively pursued capacity building and a development agenda in Africa.

India has also taken an active interest in the debt relief of certain highly indebted African countries. It is also using military aid and promoting softer ties with African countries with increased emphasis on education, science, culture, health and social aspects to cement its relationship with these countries. These relationship building measures have been quite successful and also have major spillover effects on India’s investment scenario.

One of the defining features of India’s policy towards Africa is the introduction of the ‘Focus Africa Program’. Foreign policy observers often attribute this program and also its growing engagement in Africa and other parts of the world, to its use of “soft power” - diplomacy, foreign assistance, trade, and investment, and the view of India as a vast, potential market. Moreover, India’s interest in obtaining supplies of energy and raw materials is the driving force behind its growing involvement in the economic expansion of African countries. At present, about a quarter of India’s crude oil imports are being sourced from Africa. Increased access to Africa’s oil resources was profitably negotiated with the African countries for India’s state owned enterprises for exploration rights and stakes in offshore blocks.

Africa accounted for 16% of India’s FDI and there are significant Indian private sector investments in various African countries. Traditionally, Indian investments in Africa have been small to medium scale. But lately it has been observed that there is a growing interest of Indian MNCs in the African countries. Although most of the FDIs are in oil and gas sector, a large proportion of Indian FDI has also gone into the infrastructure, engineering, chemicals, services, banking, finance, IT and telecommunication sector in Africa.  Indian pharmaceutical companies were also able to make major inroads in Africa.

Moreover, the Indian diaspora plays a very significant role in promoting India-Africa relations especially in East and Southern Africa. The large Indian diaspora, whose members have business ties with India and a good knowledge of Africa, has played a significant role in attracting new investments from India to the African continent.

The proposed seminar will therefore focus on the following sub-themes, though it will not necessarily be confined to them:

• Indo-African Political, diplomatic Relations in the post cold war period
• Indo-African Economic Relations
• Capacity Building Activities between India and the African countries.
• Opportunity and Challenges in Sectoral Cooperation:  Energy, Agro-based Industry, Pharmaceutical Industry and health care, Tourism, ICT, Education, Water resources, Science and Technology.

·         Indian Diaspora as a heritage resource in Indo-African Relations.