Prime Minister Modi to open African Development Bank event in Gujarat

Prime Minister Modi to open African Development Bank event in Gujarat

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive to inaugurate the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group’s annual convention(सम्मेलन) in Gandhinagar on May 23. His participation is aimed at honouring the lakhs of Indians, especially Gujaratis, settled in Africa for decades. The 2017 Annual Meetings will be held on May 22-26 at Mahatma Mandir on the theme: "Transforming Agriculture for Wealth Creation in Africa." Top government officials said Modi will arrive Gandhinagar on May 22 and will participate in the bank's event on May 23. Gujarat Government is putting up extensive(व्यापक) facilities for smooth The governors of the bank, who are from the 54 regional member countries and 26 non-regional member countries will also participate in the event A government official said India’s exports to Africa have increased more than three-fold from US$ 7.0 billion in 2005-06 to US$ 23.1billion in 2016-17, thereby accounting for 8.4 per cent share in India’s total exports.

"India’s imports from Africa, on the other hand, increased by nearly seven-fold from US$ 4.9 billion in 2005-06 to US$ 28.8 billion in 2016-17, thereby accounting for 7.5 per cent share in India’s total imports," he added. The meeting will provide a forum for representatives(प्रतिनिधि) of government, business, civil society, think-tanks, academia and the media to debate key issues in Africa. Petroleum products are the largest item in India’s export basket to Africa, contributing 17.2 per cent to India’s total exports to Africa during April- February 2016-17, a government official said. Officials said the PM's presence in the event will boost the morale(हौसला) of Indians settled in Africa.

"Gujaratis have large landholdings and industrial units which generate employment for millions of native Africans. So well integrated are Gujaratis in Kenya and Tanzania that there is today around 15 Swaminarayan temples in these countries," an official said. 

Definitions of morale हौसला

noun

the confidence, enthusiasm, and discipline of a person or group at a particular time.

their morale was high.

synonyms: confidence, self-confidence, self-esteem, spirit(s), team spirit, enthusiasm