India Mulling Sweeping Trade Pact With Africa

印度加紧与中国争夺对非洲影响力

　

India is considering lifting certain trade duties with African countries. The move is aimed at countering China's increasing business ventures in the resource-rich continent.

　

印度正在考虑对非洲国家解除某些贸易关税。印度的这个举动目的是制衡中国在原材料丰富的非洲大陆日益扩大的商业投资。

Government and industry sources here say India is planning to announce a major trade and investment plan when it hosts an unprecedented summit with African countries in early April.

　

新德里政府和工商界的消息来源说，印度准备在4月初跟非洲国家举行史无前例的高峰会时，宣布一项重大的贸易和投资计划，其中一个重点考虑的内容就是免除一些非洲产品的进口关税。

Under consideration: duty free imports of some items from Africa. The plan is being prepared at a time when China has been edging out India for some lucrative African contracts. Beijing and New Delhi are in competition for resources abroad to meet the energy needs of their rapidly growing economies.

　

印度拿出这个计划恰恰是在中国从印度手里夺走了好几个有利可图的非洲合同之际。北京和新德里正在海外积极争夺原材料，以满足各自国内经济高速发展而激发的能源需求。而自然资源丰富的非洲正在成为中印两国争夺的主要战场。

Some trade policy makers here are talking about sweeping concessions on duties for African products but key Indian industry figures are calling for a more selective approach.

　

新德里的一些负责制定贸易政策的官员提议对非洲产品全面削减关税，但是印度的工业领袖认为应该有选择地免税。

The deputy director of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Shipra Tripathi, says relaxation of duties and quotas should be limited to sectors mature enough to handle such a change.

　

施普拉.特里帕西是印度工业联盟的副主任。他认为，放松关税和配额的做法应该局限于那些比较成熟的、能够应对这种变化的部门。

"Probably gems and jewelry or the traditional sectors that we've had in terms of industry," she said. "They're already entrenched. They have active players in those fields who have a global presence and a global reputation. If we were to look at having a free trade agreement in terms of textiles we will kill the textile industry, whatever exists in African countries."

　

特里帕西说：“或许珠宝行业和我们的其他传统行业可以率先开放。他们都早已站稳脚跟了。这些行业在全球市场上很活跃，而且享有全球性声誉。可是，假如我们在纺织行业弄个自由贸易协议，那可就把我们的纺织工业给毁了，不管非洲国家的情况如何。”

The African Union has selected 14 member countries that will send heads of state to New Delhi this April for the first-ever India-Africa Forum.

　

非洲联盟已经有14个成员国将派遣国家元首出席4月份在新德里召开的史无前例的印度-非洲论坛。

The event is seen as a reaction to a summit in November 2006 when Beijing hosted nearly 50 African leaders. That meeting resulted in China pledging to double aid to Africa and announcing billions of dollars in credit lines and commercial deals.

　

观察人士认为，印度主办这次印非首脑会议是对北京去年11月主办中非论坛峰会所做出的反应。当时，中国利用那次峰会接待了将近50位非洲国家的领导人。在那次峰会上，中国做出承诺要加倍向非洲提供援助，同时还宣布了数十亿美元的信贷计划和商业合同。

Indian government officials and industry leaders say their interest in Africa is not only economic.

　

不过，印度的政府官员和工业领袖都说，他们对于非洲的兴趣并不仅仅局限于经济领域。

CII's Tripathi says India must demonstrate that it is truly concerned with building an equitable partnership and empowering Africans.

　

印度工业联盟的特里帕西表示，印度必须用实际行动证明，印度真正愿意跟非洲国家建立一个平等的夥伴关系，加强非洲本身的力量。

"India industry should not be looked upon as colonizers or someone who is moving in to take away," she said. "They would rather be looked upon as people who would contribute."

　

他说：“印度企业在非洲不能被看作是殖民者或掠夺者，而应当被看作是对非洲做出贡献的人。”

Indian exports to Africa are growing rapidly with two-way trade now at about $20 billion a year. South Africa and Nigeria lead the way.

　

印度对非洲的出口正在急剧增加，双边贸易额现在已经达到大约每年200亿美元。南非和尼日利亚是印度在非洲最大的贸易夥伴。

India polishes nearly all of South Africa's diamonds and is a major importer of gold. India exports to that country fabric, yarn, auto parts, and machinery, especially agricultural equipment.

　

南非几乎所有的钻石都是出口到印度进行加工的，印度还是南非黄金的重要市场。南非从印度进口的货物主要是纺织品、棉纱、汽车零件和机械设备，尤其是农业机械。

Nigeria provides 10 percent of India's petroleum needs.

　

尼日利亚向印度出口的石油可以满足印度10%的需求。