India, Africa should come up with common vision: Experts

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) India and Africa should come up with a common vision for the region and translate it into concrete action, experts agreed at the Third India-Africa Strategic Dialogue here.

People-oriented policies should be encouraged to bring India and Africa closer. India can help in human resource development and capacity building in Africa through training, education and transfer of technologies, the experts noted during the Dialogue on 'India-Africa: Building Synergies in Peace, Security and Development' here.

It was organised by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) March 3-4.

Another area of cooperation between the two regions could be 'Green Economy', it was pointed out.

Africa being blessed with vast reserves of natural resources can collaborate with India on the generation of wind, solar and hydro energy, said the experts.

Agriculture and infrastructure sectors could be other areas of mutual cooperation between the two regions, they added, according to an IDSA press release.

Both India and Africa share concerns on climate change and food security, the experts said, adding that India and Africa should cooperate to combat food scarcity. Africa should utilise India's experience in thr Green Revolution, they pointed out.

Discussing terrorism, they pointed out that the issue is of deep concern to both India and Africa as political conflicts in Africa have recently been hijacked by terrorist movements with a pan-regional and global agenda.

Therefore, it is important that India engages with Africa on these issues. The aim is to foster mutual learning and effective engagement.

The experts felt that while appropriate steps are being taken by respective governments, bilateral relations between India and African countries can still be strengthened with more frequent high-level visits and interactions.

The dialogue focussed on engagement between the two partners on the issues of Peace, Security and Development, the release said.