Date: 24 May 2013
Venue: CRRID, Chandigarh
H.E. Mr. Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab delivered the seventh Africa Day Lecture in CRRID, Chandigarh on 24 May 2013. It was co-organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi and CRRID. This was the first lecture that was held outside Delhi. Professor Sucha Singh Gill, Director General, CRRID, gave the welcome remarks. Amb. Paramjit S. Sahai, Principal Advisor, CRRID, spoke about the launching of the India-Africa Programme at CRRID, starting with Africa Day Lecture. Amb. Shiv Mukherjee, representing ICWA, spoke about the Africa Day Lecture, India's involvement, even prior to its independence and ICWA's research and outreach programme on Africa. Dr. Veena Sharma, a well known authority on Africa, spoke about the need for greater people to people contacts between India and Africa, to remove ignorance and false images of each other.
H.E. Mr. Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab paid warm tributes to ICWA, which was a premier institute and had been frequently visited by late Prime Minister Nehru. He stated that there was greater scope for cooperation between India and Africa. He spoke of the forces of competition and cooperation, among countries, while he stressed the need for cooperation as prime mover for connecting nations and people. He stressed on the individual and citizen level efforts for strengthening such cooperation.
Hon'ble Governor further stated that globalisation of knowledge should be promoted. He, however, noted that these days globalisation of trade had been emphasised more. He specifically mentioned about the possibility of cooperation between India and Africa on genetic technology and solar energy. He noted India's increased involvement in Africa, consequent to the holding of the first India-Africa Summit in 2008 in Delhi, where he also participated. He also noted the high esteem in which India was held in the African countries. He also mentioned that experiences of the States of Punjab and Haryana could be used for having India-Africa cooperation on the issues of food security and agricultural development.
The function concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Rashpal Malhotra, Executive Vice Chairman, who thanked the Governor for infusing new ideas, while assuring him of CRRID'S willingness to give a practical shape to these ideas.