India adds pedal power to its outreach to Africa

Anirban Bhaumik, DHNS,

Nov 16 2018, 14:36 ist
updated: Nov 16 2018, 14:50 ist

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj shakes hands with Ambassador of Senegal El Hadji Ibou Boye during a handover ceremony to Senegal under a 'Clean Energy Initiative', in New Delhi, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. (PTI Photo)

India is now set to add pedal power into its outreach to Africa, beginning with gifting 250 e-rickshaws to Senegal.

India will soon provide 250 e-rickshaws with lithium-ion batteries to Senegal, in response to the request of President Macky Sall of the West African nation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday handed over two of the e-rickshaws to Senegal’s Ambassador to India, El Hadji Ibou Boye, in a ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs in Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan in New Delhi.

Swaraj and Boye took a short ride on an e-rickshaw during the ceremony.

The e-rickshaws, which India is providing to Senegal, are made in India by Goenka Electric Motors Vehicles (Pvt) Limited and procured through HMT International Limited.

“India has seen a surge towards battery powered e-rickshaws in the recent past. The supply of 250 e-rickshaws is expected to assist Senegal in adopting clean and efficient energy sources in the area of urban public transport,” said MEA spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar.

India’s relations with Senegal are marked by regular high-level contacts and cooperation, including in the multilateral forums. The bilateral trade between India and Senegal during 2017-18 was at a record US $ 1.28 billion. India’s Line of Credit (LOC) projects in Senegal (both ongoing and completed) are estimated to be worth more than US $ 300 million.

“India is committed to fulfil its role as an important partner for Africa’s development, especially through the initiatives under the India-Africa Forum Summit,” said Kumar.