'India can benefit greatly from partnership with Africa'

The third India-Africa Forum Summit kicks off next week in Delhi. Since its inception in 2008, it will be the largest-ever gathering of African nations on Indian soil. In fact, the entire continent of 54 nations that represent 1.1 billion people and straddle an area 10 times that of India would be represented.

Africa is without doubt the next big thing for India. Africa and India have always had close ties — historical, social, economic and cultural. India and African nations have fought jointly against colonialism and apartheid in the past. Today, they face as great if not greater common threats — be it poverty, illiteracy, hunger, climate change and terrorism.

Former diplomat KC Singh, who has been an ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and then to Iran says India has always had close links with sub-Saharan Africa. "Africa is both a market and also has huge resources of mines and minerals, and other raw materials, which can help India grow at 8-8.5 percent," he told CNBC-TV18. According to him, India can only benefit from its partnership with Africa.

He also adds that lines of credit to Africa have become very important in the last 10-12 years.