The India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is a celebration of the close partnership between Africa and India. It is an acknowledgement of our shared history as well as our future prospects. From our struggle against colonialism and apartheid, we have emerged to jointly accept the challenges of a globalizing world. Even as we combat with common threats - the threat from international terrorism; the scourge of poverty, disease, illiteracy and hunger; the challenge of climate change - and collectively promote the socio-economic advancement of all our people, we believe that India and Africa traverse the same path, share the same values and cherish the same dreams.
A vibrant India and a resurgent Africa have a vision of a close partnership. A partnership that is anchored in the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit.This vision takes us beyond our strong bilateral relationships, our close ties with regional economic communities and aims to develop a new paradigm of cooperation which takes into account Africa's own aspirations for pan-African institutions and development programmes.
The third edition of the four day IAFS summit which will take place during 26th-29th October 2015 enables consultations at the highest political level between the heads of government of 54 nations across Africa and the Indian government to give a new thrust to our age-old partnership. It provides an opportunity to not only reflect on the past, but to define the road ahead in tune with the times we live in.
From a rose garden to Gandhi's Africa connect, to Modi jackets, the Narendra Modi government has put in everything but the kitchen sink to ensure the Third India-Africa Forum Summit is the most successful multilateral event ever held in India.
With over 40 African heads of state and government confirming attendance, the event is being seen as India's most successful outreach ever to the resource-rich continent which has all major powers vying for influence. Given the time and attention he has spared for the summit, Modi is looking to use his personalised style of diplomacy to not just make the event memorable but to also prove that foreign policy remains his strong point despite recent reverses in the neighbourhood, most notably in Nepal.
The summit starts on Monday with a senior officials' meeting, foreign ministers meet the next day.
The main summit will take place on Thursday. Leaders will start touching down on Wednesday and have bilateral meetings with Modi the same day before going into the main summit on October 29. The main summit will comprise a plenary session and declarations.
The summit is taking place a month ahead of Africa's second such summit with China. Modi can be expected to come into his own in the company of top African leaders like Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi whom he persuaded to attend when he met him last month in New York.
Modi said Friday that India and Africa must speak in one voice on UNSC reforms. Egypt is a key member of the Uniting for Consensus group which blocks UNSC expansion.
Modi, who believes his own relationship with top leaders is as important as South Block's diplomatic skills, will host a dinner for the African leaders on Wednesday.
Many of them will join Modi wearing the waistcoat gifted to them that is now known as the Modi jacket.
The PM will gift the leaders Gandhi memorabilia picked up from iconic places in Gandhi's life.
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