Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) | India and Cote d'Ivoire discussed ways to expand cooperation in defence and anti-terrorism, trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar describing the country as one of India's "key partners" in Western Africa.
Jaishankar arrived in Cote d'Ivoire on Wednesday from Ghana on the second leg of his three-nation tour of African countries, which also includes Ethiopia.
The EAM met Cote d'Ivoire's Vice Prime Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara in Abidjan on Wednesday and discussed the growing defence partnership between the two countries.
"We spoke about our growing defence partnership, underpinned by mutual trust, capacity building and shared interests," Jaishankar posted on social media after the meeting.
"Exchanged views on opportunities to further our cooperation in defence & anti-terrorism, including through training, capacity building and enhanced institutional exchanges," he said.
Ouattara, who is also the defence minister of Cote d'Ivoire, said that the discussion with Jaishankar "focused on strengthening cooperation between Cote d'Ivoire and India." "This meeting reaffirms our shared commitment to consolidating a strategic partnership in service of peace, security, and development," Ouattara posted on social media.
Earlier, Jaishankar held talks with Cote d'Ivoire's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Niale Kaba on strengthening bilateral ties, with a focus on trade, infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare.
Jaishankar said he had "comprehensive discussions" with Kaba on advancing India-Cote d'Ivoire partnership, "including in trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and people-to-people ties".
"Underlined that our people-centric cooperation will be driven by the priorities of Cote d'Ivoire," he said in a social media post.
The two sides also discussed deepening their engagement in multilateral fora, he said.
The visit comes as India seeks to deepen its partnerships with African countries, strengthen cooperation with the Global South and expand collaboration in areas ranging from trade and investment to capacity building, defence and healthcare.
At an interaction with ITEC alumni in Cote d'Ivoire on Wednesday, Jaishankar said India's development partnership has always been central to its engagement with Africa and that India's cooperation should respond to the demands and priorities of its African partners.
He said the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, which started in 1964, has evolved into one of India's most important platforms for capacity building and engagement with other countries.
ITEC now extends to more than 116 partner countries, with nearly 10,000 fully funded training opportunities offered every year across a wide range of disciplines, the minister said.
In Cote d'Ivoire, around 800 ITEC slots have been utilised over the last 12 years, while 123 defence slots and 100 civilian slots have been committed, Jaishankar said.
He said ITEC covers areas including ICT and digital governance, public administration, banking, finance, agriculture, energy, skill development, defence, security and countering terrorism.
The minister said capacity building was an important pillar of India's longstanding and friendly relations with Cote d'Ivoire and described the country as one of India's "key partners in Western Africa".
Jaishankar said India was supportive of Cote d'Ivoire's continued economic growth, governance transformation, and security and defence goals, and described India as a "reliable partner" in meeting its requirements for skilled human resources, technical expertise and institutional capacity.
He also urged ITEC alumni to remain connected with India and said the alumni network should become a "standing platform" for continuous engagement with ITEC.
The minister said India would welcome suggestions on how the programmes could be improved and what new areas would be appropriate.
Jaishankar said India would keep adjusting and changing the programme to factor in Cote d'Ivoire's national priorities, on both the defence and civilian sides.
"The success of ITEC should ultimately be measured not just by the number of participants trained, but by the knowledge that is transferred, the institutions that are strengthened, and by the enthusiasm and the difference of participants and their countries," he said.
The EAM said India's philosophy behind ITEC was driven by a "very deep commitment to engagement with Africa", adding that while development plans should respond to Africa's own priorities, development of capacities was key.
He also thanked the ITEC alumni, saying each of them had become a "bridge of friendship between our two countries".
Jaishankar also interacted with members of the Indian community in Cote d'Ivoire, speaking about the transformations in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He highlighted India's efforts in areas including diversification of energy supplies in times of global uncertainty, securing fertiliser supplies, ensuring ease of living with a focus on solving citizen problems, strides in passport services, rapid response to natural disasters and evacuation of nationals in distress.
The minister also spoke about building consensus during India's BRICS and G20 presidencies, and highlighted India's action on the African Union's permanent membership during its G20 presidency.
Earlier, in Ghana, Jaishankar held discussions on expanding the comprehensive partnership between the two countries into new areas including pharmaceuticals, health, mining, defence, railways and digital sectors.
In Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Jaishankar will also chair the Regional Heads of Mission conference that is expected to be attended by Indian envoys in the region.
This visit is reflective of India's commitment to deepen its partnership with Africa, and will further New Delhi's solidarity with the Global South, the Ministry of External Affairs said ahead of Jaishankar's visit to African nations.
