India, Africa can double trade to $200 billion: Piyush Goyal

NEW DELHI: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said India and Africa can double the bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2030. At a Conclave, he also said that India can look for negotiating a free trade agreement with Africa to further strengtheneconomictiesandthatthe two "have not reached our true potential".

Goyal suggested sharing renewable energy between India and

Africa. "If we were to create an interconnectedbridgebetweenAfrica and India, partially through overline, over the ground, partially, it will also be under the ocean and we could transmit clean energy, renewable energy from Africa to India particularly during our peak hours, and from India to Africa in our nonpeakhours,"hesaid.

Goyal also offered to partner with Africa in the digital public infrastructure space. He mentioned UPI,Covidapponhealthcareandone nation-one ration card. He extended help to develop an open network for digitalcommercetohelpdemocratise ecommerce, so that local people and entrepreneurs do not lose out on opportunitiesofecommerce.

Goyal said India works as a friend and brother with Africa and does not "take over"assets like power transmissionlinesandports.