African Union as a part of G20

With the negotiations among sherpas held recently, the African Union (AU) is set to join the G-20. Now, the 55-member AU will join the European Union as the only two regional bodies in the G-20.

• India had written a letter to the G20 nations in which he proposed that the African Union be given full, permanent membership of the bloc at the upcoming summit in New Delhi.
• Countries like Germany, Brazil, and Canada have also expressed their support for African Union membership to the G20.

About the African Union (AU):

• The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent.
• In 1963, the Organization of African Unity was founded by the independent states of Africa.
• The organization aimed to promote cooperation between African states.
• The 1980 Lagos Plan of Action was adopted by the Organization of African Unity. The plan suggested that Africa should minimize reliance upon the West by promoting intra-African trade.
• In 2002, the Organization of African Unity was succeeded by the African Union, which had as one of its goals to accelerate the "economic integration of the continent”.

India-Africa Relations:

• Social Infrastructure: The India-Africa social infrastructure (education, health, skills) cooperation is multidimensional, comprehensive, and involves national, state, and subnational actors working toward augmenting African institutional and individual capacities.
• Common Geo-Political Interests: India and Africa have common interests on international issues, UN reforms, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, cybersecurity, and energy security.
• Economic Cooperation: India’s economic engagement with Africa is substantive.
  • In the last decade and a half, trade between India and Africa has multiplied and diversified–bilateral trade of USD63.3 billion in 2018-19 made India the third-largest trading partner for the continent.
• Support in Fight Against COVID-19: Under the e-ITEC initiative, India has shared Covid-19 management strategies, and training webinars exclusively to train healthcare professionals from Africa by Indian health experts.
  • India is also sending consignments of essential medicines, including hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and paracetamol, to many African countries in addition to doctors and paramedics.
• Recent Development:
• India’s first high-level visit in Africa for 2022 took place and the following developments took place:
• India announced the Phase-II upgrade of Entrepreneurship Development and Technology Centre (CEDT) in Dakar, built with Indian grant assistance.
• India also offered a Special ITEC English proficiency course for Senegalese public servants.
• India announced a Special training program for a batch of 15 Senegalese diplomats at Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Services.