India launches pan-African e-knowledge & health network

New Delhi: India has launched a pan-Africa digital knowledge and health network, establishing its leadership role in an area where China has not ventured yet despite its quest to extend its influence across the continent.

The five-year project, unveiled by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, aims at providing free teleeducation courses in various academic disciplines to 4,000 students annually from African countries. In addition, it will help provide free continuing medical education to 1,000 candidates comprising African doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. Indian doctors will provide free medical consultancy to African doctors who seek such consultancy, officials told ET.

The initiative comes amid domestic criticism of President Xi Jinping’s $60 billion package for Africa and rising concern over Chinese debts in African countries.


India’s support in the education sector has received huge support in Africa for decades and the new project will serve as a digital bridge of knowledge and health between India and Africa, officials said.

“India has an edge over China and can offer what China has not been able to offer. While China may offer largesse, Indian teachers have shaped the future of African youth for decades.

The current project also extends to French-speaking Western Africa,” an expert, who is part of the project, told ET on condition of anonymity.

Launching the project, Swaraj said on Monday, “Over the years we have built several bridges with Africa…. Today, we are here to build a bridge which is no less important – the bridge of knowledge and health between India and Africa…. India’s vision of Indian Ocean security is cooperative and inclusive, rooted in security and growth for all in the region. We must all work together to ensure that Africa does not once again turn into a theatre of rival ambitions, but becomes a nursery for the aspirations of Africa’s youth.”