CONCEPT NOTE:

India-Africa relations have intensified across a range of sectors as a consequence of the India Africa Forum Summit process. Since India has opened new diplomatic missions in Africa to expand its footprint, it has engaged African countries on global issues such as climate change, health and worked to promote mutually beneficial trade and investment relationships. Over the years, developmental co-operation between India-Africa has expanded and now India is considered as a major partner for African states. Besides, there is scope to deepen people to people contact by promoting sporting, tourism, and media related ties. The ‘Vijigishu’ conference will be built on the themes (mentioned below) and attempts to offer a platform for the candid exchange of views.

This conference will be an attempt to bring together academia, strategic thinkers, and policy makers from India and African countries to discuss and evaluate India’s partnership with Africa in various sectors and explore new emerging areas of cooperation for further strengthening India-Africa ties. The conference will have six sessions under the following themes:

Inaugural

Session I: India and Africa Enhancing Cooperation on Global Issues

Session II: Indian Diaspora in Africa: Role and their Contribution

Session III: Agenda 2063 and Taking Stock of India Africa Development Partnership

Session IV: India-Africa Cooperation on Maritime Security

Session V: Deepening People to People Connect between India and Africa

Session VI: Enhancing India-Africa Trade and Investment Linkages

Panel Discussion by Students/Researchers India-Africa Cooperation for Security, stability and sustainability: Energy, Environment, Food and Health Security

Panel Discussion by Delegates - Recent Developments: IAFS-IV and the Way Forward

Valedictory

OVERVIEW OF THE INSTITUTIONS:

Amity Institute of International Studies

Amity Institute of International Studies is the fastest growing institution in Amity University which draws strengths from the development of niche and emerging programmes in the field of International Relations granting opportunities to the students to explore the field and attune themselves according to the domain specifics. AIIS offers to the prospective students the befitting opportunities once they complete these specially designed programmes successfully in private, public sector and the Government. The students going through the academic rigour and the exposure and opportunities provided by the institute, the graduates are likely to be equipped to handle intricacies of the international relations, making them suitable to build their career in Civil Services and international organizations, in Media, MNCs and NGOs.

The institute is well networked with various renowned organizations in India and abroad the professional network of key officials and academicians. The institute engages top academicians, experts in the field and specialized organizations to design the best syllabus, making those relevant and responsible to the current needs and time. The institute has the advantage of drawing best expertise in the field that are currently available within the system of Amity University, Noida, to groom the students making them best professionals in the field. The institute offers the academic programmes with latest pedagogical support and by offering specialized workshops, webinars, conferences etc., and also individual experts and professionals in the field for the students to gain unlimited exposure.

The institute is supported by qualified Director, Senior Professors, Assistant Professors, Distinguished Visiting Professors, Professors of Eminence in the field, experts, Research organizations and non-teaching and administrative staff. The institute provides a highly conducive environment and offers counselling and mentor support. The institute provides open and easy access to the students to interact with the higher authorities to address any of their academic and non-academic issues providing the much sought-after comfort level to the students to enjoy the study and in the professional development.

African Studies Association (ASA)

African Studies Association of India (ASA) is an all-India apex body of Indian Africanist coming from academics, media, diplomatic services, business and other professions. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization of scholars whose mandate is to ‘foster the study, knowledge and understanding of African affairs in India and Indian affairs in Africa’ through research and studies. Founded in 2003, the permanent secretariat of the Association is located at New Delhi. It has two refereed biannual journals Africa Review (Routledge, London) and Insight on Africa (Sage Publications). It also publishes a book series on Africa's Global Engagement (Published by Palgrave Macmillan). Most of its members have post-graduate degree in social sciences and humanities with specialization in African affairs. A good number of student members are also there who are pursuing higher studies on Africa.

FICCI

Established in 1927, FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India. Its history is closely interwoven with India's struggle for independence, its industrialization, and its emergence as one of the most rapidly growing global economies.

A non-government, not-for-profit organisation, FICCI is the voice of India's business and industry. From influencing policy to encouraging debate, engaging with policy makers and civil society, FICCI articulates the views and concerns of industry. It serves its members from the Indian private and public corporate sectors and multinational companies, drawing its strength from diverse regional chambers of commerce and industry across states, reaching out to over 2,50,000 companies.

FICCI provides a platform for networking and consensus building within and across sectors and is the first port of call for Indian industry, policy makers and the international business community.

CPRG

The Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG), a New Delhi-based think tank, invites applications for its inaugural edition of the CPRG Indian Knowledge System Research Grant. The grant aims to support graduate students and early career researchers working on pertinent themes in Humanities and Social Sciences related to Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).

We invite applications from postgraduate and doctoral students as well as postdoctoral researchers. The fellowship is open to students of all nationalities from Indian and foreign universities.

Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad(ARSP)

To address the long felt need for an organization devoted to engaging with the large number of Overseas Indians(OI), both NRIs & PIOs, some like minded intellectuals, journalists and social workers initiated a Forum to discuss the issues pertaining to Pravasi Bharatiyas or the OI. Thus the Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad(ARSP) or the Indian Council for International Co-operation was established in 1978 as a non- profit, non- governmental and non- political organization to promote universal brotherhood and harmony, embodied in its motto, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or ‘the world is one family’.