File Photo: Flag of United Nations.
Days before India hosts the third India-Africa Forum Summit, it has voiced concern over the decline in development assistance to Africa and called on the international community for continued aid flow to "those in need".
India's Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Bhagwant Bishnoi said at a General Assembly session here that even as overall Official Development Assistance (ODA) levels increased slightly in 2014 over 2013, it is "striking" that ODA to Africa suffered a decline.
"Moreover, the share of Africa in global ODA also fell.
This cannot but be a cause of concern and a situation that must be remedied at the earliest," he said at the debate on Africa's development.
He said that, "it is important not only that aid commitments are met at the earliest, but also that aid continues to flow to those most in need."
"It is equally important that aid is not diverted away from social sectors like health and education into climate change mitigation, for which the support must be new and additional," he added.
Mr Bishnoi informed the 193-member UNGA that India is organising the third India-Africa Forum Summit from October 26-29 in New Delhi in which all 54 African countries would participate.
The summit will be the first following the adoption of the Agenda 2063 by the Africa Union this year and will also be the first since the achievement of 50 years of pan-Africanism.
"India and Africa have long worked together to develop a common approach and joint endeavor to attain inclusive economic growth, eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development. We have no doubt that this unique partnership will only strengthen in the coming years," he said.
Mr Bishnoi said that the new developmental vision and the template of action contained in the Agenda 2030, adopted by world leaders last month, is "ambitious, comprehensive and holistic" and at its core are ideals and objectives that are also most relevant for the development of Africa.
"The recognition that ending poverty is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development speaks directly to the imperative of keeping the interests and priorities of Africa at the centre of our efforts," he said.
Highlighting the growing economic cooperation between India and Africa, he pointed out that India-Africa trade has doubled in the last five years to USD 72 billion.
Launched in 2008, India expanded its Duty Free Trade Preference Scheme for LDCs in 2014 to now include 98 per cent of tariff lines.
The benefits of this unilateral scheme extend to all sub Saharan African countries to increase their exports to India.
Growing investment by Indian companies in Africa is now estimated in the range of USD 30-35 billion spread across a range of sectors.