India President praises Indian Diaspora in Africa |
Addressing the Indian community in Cotonou, Benin, President Ram Nath Kovind said India has emerged as a key driver of global growth and in the next seven years, the country`s target is to become a 5 trillion dollar economy. He said, India counts on its diaspora, as entrepreneurs, as professionals, as change-makers or simply as ambassadors of Indian values and culture to support the country`s growth. Our engagement with the world, therefore, is set to increase manifold. Our partnership with Africa will occupy a central place in this matrix. The President, who arrived in Benin on Sunday on the first leg of his three-nation tour, is the first Indian head of state to visit the West African nation. Addressing the Indian community, he said India has decided to open 18 new embassies in Africa, seven of them in West Africa. In this context, he said consolidation of India`s ties with countries like Benin is very important. India is Benin`s largest trading partner and nearly 100 Indian or Indian-owned companies are operating in the country. Praising the work being done by the Indian Association in Cotonou, the President said in the absence of an Indian Embassy in Benin, the association has become an important bridge between the community members and the Indian Mission in Abuja, Nigeria.
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