The Prime Minister said there is no country in Africa that has not been visited by an Indian minister in the last three years. Modi said after assuming office in 2014, he made Africa a top priority for India's foreign and economic policy. Many of the challenges we face are the same – uplifting our farmers and poor and empowering women. 
Our challenges, he said also include ensuring that our rural communities have access to finance in building infrastructure. He said by paying subisidies directly to the poor rather than indirectly through price concessions, we have achieved large fiscal savings. Mr. Modi said our aim is that India must be an engine of growth as well as an example in climate friendly development in the years to come.