India, UAE join hands to launch projects in Africa

India and the United Arab Emirates, have joined hands to launch third country projects in Africa, where India has a decades-old presence and the UAE is expanding its footprint rapidly.
Last week, a joint India-UAE healthcare delegation visited Tanzania, recipient of India's biggest line of credit in Africa, to explore investment opportunities and meet senior government officials. The objective of the visit was to identify specific projects for collaboration with government and private healthcare providers in Tanzania.

India and its close ally in West Asia have come together to jointly work in the healthcare sector in third countries, said officials. As per the joint India-UAE Vision Statement of February 18, issued after the virtual meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with then Abu Dhabi Crown Prince (now President), "The leaders also agreed to collaborate in providing health care in underprivileged countries," it said. The joint delegation explored opportunities to invest in healthcare (setting up of hospitals, diagnostic centres) in Tanzania. Prominent hospitals, diagnostic centres and investors from India (Apollo Hospitals, Fortis, Medanta, NephroPlus, Dr Lal Path Labs, KEF Holdings, FICCI and Invest India) and the UAE (G42 Healthcare, Tamouh and Somerian) and government representatives of both countries were part of the delegation, said officials.

Lav Agarwal, additional secretary, health and family welfare ministry, led the Indian delegation while the UAE delegation was headed by Abdul Wahed Abdul Hakim Al Jabri, head of Control Department, Department of Foreign Aid Affairs, UAE.

The delegation held detailed discussions with Tanzania's health minister Ummy Mwalimu, visited Tanzania Investment Centre and reputed hospitals in Dar es Salaam such as Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Muhimbili National Hospital, Saifee Hospital, The Aga Khan Hospital and Hitech Sai Hospital and discussed various possibilities of collaboration and investment potential, said officials.The High Commission of India in Tanzania, in association with the Embassy of UAE in Tanzania, also organized a business round table for health sector professionals.

Meanwhile, a leading Indian group is also setting up a state-of-the-art hospital in Kenya.