Mumbai – Forty-seven journalists, media professionals, and editors from 23 countries across North, East, and Southern Africa are currently in India on a familiarisation visit. Hosted by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the delegation is engaging in discussions aimed at reshaping perceptions of India and fostering stronger international relations.
Moderated by Dr. Sreeram Chaulia, the discussions cover a wide array of topics. These include the visitors’ impressions of India, the nation’s rapid transformation in physical and digital infrastructure, and how these advancements can benefit other developing countries. Participants are also exploring current media coverage of India in their respective nations, seeking ways to enhance it through cooperation, and examining India’s progress in science and technology, along with its commitment to sharing this knowledge with the Global South. Other key themes include India’s role as a reliable partner in combating climate change, insights from its successful management of ethnic diversity and robust democracy, and its contributions to global peace, security, counter-terrorism, and the defence readiness of partner nations.
A questionnaire distributed to the visiting journalists probes their views on India’s development, media landscape, global engagement, and democratic model. It seeks feedback on India’s swift infrastructure and digital transformation, exemplified by projects like the Atal Setu bridge and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and its potential to aid other nations in similar advancements. The survey also investigates how India’s image is portrayed in foreign media, encouraging dialogue on correcting outdated stereotypes and boosting media cooperation through shared content and joint productions.
Furthermore, the discussions shed light on India’s leadership in science and technology, particularly through institutions like the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Biocon, a prominent generic medicine manufacturer. India’s readiness to share innovations in space, healthcare, and affordable medicines with other developing nations is a key point. India’s role in tackling climate change through initiatives like the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and its commitment to international peace through UN missions in Africa, are also prominent themes. The visit further encourages reflection on India’s model of democratic governance and ethnic pluralism, positioning it as a valuable reference for fellow developing countries.
Dalia Osman from Egypt shared her positive impressions, stating, “We know India from movies… when we visit India, we see the people in India are genius, helpful, and India plays an important role all over the world, a significant role, especially in economic [terms].”
Jami from Botswana expressed surprise at India’s luxury market, discovering a “huge market of Indians who actually appreciate the kind of lifestyle that will appeal to the youngsters in my country” after seeing an Indian edition of GQ magazine at Mumbai airport.
Bernia Kotella from Mozambique praised India’s public transport system, suggesting, “Our country could learn from India and implement [it] because we struggle a lot with transport.”
Biri Kazoka from Zambia, visiting India for the first time, lauded the hospitality of the Indian people, describing them as “very, very friendly.” He added, “I think our impression, my impression, I think is a really striking lesson to take back home because Zambia is a developing country and our government… is emphasizing on infrastructure as well and I think we have a lot to learn from India.”
Farida Columba from Uganda, who last visited in 2015, noted the significant infrastructural development. “If you compare India of 2015 with India of today, they are totally different. India has developed so much when it comes to infrastructure, which makes it look so beautiful and so developed.” She also praised India’s water availability, stating, “water is for free even in the restaurant… even along the road.”
Silence from Zimbabwe raised concerns about the disparity in Indian investments in Southern Africa. “Indian investments in Zimbabwe are around $600 million… which means there’s just as much limited partnerships… if you look at Egypt, next door in South Africa, we have much more investments there.”
Journalists also discussed the coverage of India in their home countries. Jamal from Mauritania noted, “About the movie, about the documentary and the movie, India… it’s parades of different culture, the different religion and really democracy for me, really democracy and India is big economic power.”
Nihal Samir from Daily News Egypt suggested more co-produced documentaries between India and Egypt to showcase similarities and enhance understanding beyond popular culture.
Gabriel from Malawi spoke about coverage of Indian government-supported projects in his country, such as those providing prosthetics and the “solar mamas” initiative, where village women are trained in India to bring solar power to their communities. “To tell the story of India, maybe now that I’m here, alighting from my plane and I see the number of skyscrapers that exactly tells me where India’s going.”
Mohammed Sah Arabat, a Moroccan journalist, highlighted the growing focus on India in Moroccan media due to increasing ties, including a defence cooperation agreement.
Nasim Mishi from Algeria brought up the shared experience of combating terrorism, stating, “Our both countries suffered from extremism, terrorism, especially from Pakistan. We know that our both countries need to work together to, especially in the counterterrorism aspect.”
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