The Union Minister of Finance Shri Arun Jaitley says India-Africa together can shape the future of the world

FM Shri Arun Jaitley: India-Africa partnership model is unique; the cornerstone is voluntary partnership without any imposition on partner

The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jailtey said that the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Annual Meeting organized in India this year is a new chapter in India - Africa relationship. India-Africa together can shape the future of the world, he added. Shri Jaitley was speaking at the Opening Session of Annual meeting of African Development Bank themed on 'Africa-India Cooperation on enhancing the High 5 Strategy' at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat today.

Shri Jaitley said “our commitment is reflected in high level engagement with Africa on a scale never seen before.” He further added that ''India-Africa partnership model is unique; the cornerstone is voluntary partnership without any imposition on partner and the partner is free to decide what is best for them.”

Talking about the 'High 5' Agenda of the AfDB, the Finance Minister said that the High 5 Agenda is not different from Indian policy. “If India is a bright spot, then Africa is not very far away”, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance called Africa a continent of immense opportunities and said that there are opportunities for India and Africa to revive global growth.

Daniel Kablan Duncan, Vice President, Republic of Cote d’lvoire, Akinwumi Adesina, President, African development Bank, Rakesh Bharti Mittal, President designate, CII, Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

India-Africa partnership emphasizes voluntary equal collaboration shaping shared development priorities and aligning with AfDB High Five agenda. India-Africa cooperation is framed as a voluntary, non-impositional partnership supported by high-level engagement, with partner countries retaining autonomy to set their development priorities. The AfDB Annual Meeting in India emphasised alignment between the AfDB's High Five strategic priorities and Indian policy, identifying mutual opportunities to coordinate development cooperation, policy alignment, and institutional efforts to advance shared infrastructure, energy, and growth objectives.