Threat for Affordable Life-Saving Medicines for Poor Resurfaces: Anand Sharma India Africa Trade to Reach US$70 billion by 2015

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Anand Sharma, delivered the key note address at the 7th CII- Exim Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership 2011. The theme of the conclave was: “Creating Possibilities- Delivering Value. Prime Minister of Mozambique Mr. Aires Bonifacio Ali and Prime Minister of Togo, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, was also present on the occasion. Shri Sharma during his address reiterated India’s commitment to ensure supply of affordable life-saving drugs for poor people. Speaking, Shri Sharma assured that “India will not allow this to happen where life-saving medicines are out of the reach of poor people. We will ensure that whatever new molecules develop, the benefit must reach the poor people”. He pointed out that Indian generic has played a pivotal role in bringing down the cost of treatment of diseases like HIV AIDS from above US $ 11000 to less than US $ 400. However, he stressed that this was not without threat. Legal battles had to be fought and won due to stranglehold of MNC cartel which was denying the availability of these drugs to people in poor countries. “We see some signs of that again, the campaigns that have been carried out and the backdoor manipulations.....with the new medicines that are coming out that will happen again.” He said India has one of the finest IPR regimes, at the same time, “intellect of the world must be for the benefit of humankind.”

Speaking about the challenges being faced by Africa and India, The Minister highlighted food and energy security in the backdrop of fragile global recovery from the financial crisis and unrest in Africa and West Asia. He pointed out the need for sustained efforts in the direction of food security as the food inventories across the world have reached dangerous levels. Opportunities for cooperation exist between Africa and India to tackle these issues. Referring to Pan Africa e-network, the minister informed that India gifted a dedicated a satellite to people of Africa and seek to connect the institutions in Africa with institution in India for tele-medicine and tele-education. Nearly 2000 African students are already registered in Indian universities and telemedicine exchanges are taking place between doctors in India and Africa.

Shri Sharma informed that Trade between India and Africa has reached close to US $ 45 billion and is well on the path of meeting the target of US $ 70 billion by 2015. Trade engagement with Africa is an area of high priority for India. Focus Africa Policy and Team 9 initiative are aimed to enhance the trade between India and Africa. Minister further said, “We are currently engaged in negotiations for preferential trade agreement with SACU and are negotiating Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). These are integral to our commitment of engaging with all the regional economic communities of Africa to build a network which will facilitate flouring South- South Trade”.

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(Release ID :71303)