India’s engagement with the partner nations of the East African Community has been on a constant rise, from political solidarities to the expansion of trade and investment flows. India has continuously been working to revitalize the relations and has made engagements more substantial.
However, with the unprecedented arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, an existential crisis severely testing the social, economic and political resilience of global order has posed a significant threat to the region’s development.
India, with its diplomatic outreach to partner countries of EAC, is showcased by the telephonic conversations between the Indian Prime Minister and the President of Uganda, followed by the discussion of the Indian external affairs minister with the Kenyan and Uganda counterparts. The engagement assured all possible support in dealing with the pandemic and reaffirmed India’s strong relations with EAC countries.
Further, a donation of Rwf 135 million by Airtel Rwanda to support Rwanda’s fight against the pandemic epitomizes the existence of multiple private stakeholders and their role in shaping the coordinated response to the crisis.
The economy of EAC countries is projected to grow at a much slower pace than before due to the weakened global demand for goods, supply chain disruptions and fall in export revenue because of the pandemic. An effective long-term policy planning keeping in mind the engagements with external factors, is imperative to ensure structural transformation.
Given that agricultural activities account for the livelihood of about 80% of the region’s population, the complementary sectoral priorities of India and EAC countries in the areas of agricultural and food security present many opportunities for collaboration.
The lack of technological inputs, micro-financing, and good quality seeds combined with many other factors have contributed to low agricultural productivity in the region. By collaborating with India through training programmes, technological sharing, and providing soft loans in agricultural and related activities, EAC has the proficiency to reap the sector’s benefits to its true potential.
EAC countries must give importance to digital agriculture needs via Information and communication technology. India’s experience in this regard can be beneficial for timely cropping, weather and price information to the farmers of EAC.
Also, the Locusts swarm outbreak in East Africa threatened the already fragile food security there and decimated many acres of crops. Collaboration with India in combating this threat through its insecticide manufacturing units and with cutting-edge technological equipment can benefit both countries.
EAC aims to build a robust healthcare system, and cooperation with India can be a difference-maker. The multi-faceted, comprehensive engagement needs to be leveraged, including technical help, building health infrastructure, and aid in EAC’s health sector.
In the pandemic era, the role of financial inclusion in providing relief measures has become more critical than ever. Financial inclusion as a key enabler of minimizing poverty and furthering development and growth can help India and EAC.
Bottom line
India-EAC cooperation will help the countries to develop bilaterally, multilaterally and regionally, especially during the tough times of the pandemic era.