PM Modi at the closing session of the India Africa Forum Summit. (Press Trust of India Photo)
At the much awaited finale of the India-Africa summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today raised the issue of United Nations Security Council reforms.
"India and Africa must speak in one voice for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council," PM Modi said during his address.
India found a coalition of consensus on topics ranging from education, terrorism, food security and United Nations Security Council or UNSC reforms.
Strongly pitching for reforms to the UNSC, African Union Chief Robert Mugabe said, "The organisation is defective and outdated."
At the finale, where heads of state of 54 African nations were present, PM Modi also announced an additional line of credit for Africa.
"Offer concessional credit of 10 billion US dollars over the next five years. This will be in addition to our ongoing credit programme. We will also offer a grant assistance of 600 million US dollars. This will include an India-Africa Development Fund of 100 million US dollars and an India-Africa Health Fund of 10 million US dollars," PM Modi said.
The 54 African countries range from democracies to oppressors to conflict-ridden, but express confidence in the India-Africa dream.
A Nigerian journalist, Chukwuma, commended PM Modi for his generosity and said, "Even though there are so many issues in India, PM Modi has offered 50,000 scholarships among other funding. He has a future vision for Africa especially with China on the wane."
The summit concluded with commemoration of postage stamps and coins. It was also decided that in the future, the India-Africa summit will be held every five years instead of three to allow enough time for stocktaking.