India, US Convene Second Dialog On Africa In Washington

WASHINGTON, DC (ANI) – In a concerted effort to strengthen ties and collaborate on development initiatives in Africa, the second round of the India-US Dialogue on Africa commenced here on May 14. The dialogue, spanning over two days, saw high-level participation from both sides, with the Indian delegation jointly led by Puneet R. Kundal, AS, and Sevala N. Mude, AS (C&WA), while the US side was spearheaded by Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

The primary objective of the India-US dialogue on Africa is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and perspectives, with a focus on developing institutional, technical, and bilateral synergies to effectively collaborate on developmental projects and programs in Africa. By leveraging the respective strengths of India and the United States, the dialogue aims to identify key areas of cooperation in alignment with African priorities.

Notably, this dialogue marks a significant milestone as the first such engagement between India and the US following the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency of the G20. This recognition underscores the growing importance of Africa on the global stage and highlights the commitment of both India and the US to engage meaningfully with the continent.

The United States and India have partnered on development projects in Africa in the areas of education, energy, agriculture, and health. One example of this cooperation is the Feed the Future India Africa Innovation Transfer Platform, which partners with TechnoServe to share Indian soil and water management techniques in Kenya and Malawi.