 India and Africa are bonded together by the people-to-people civilizational and cultural contacts that go back many centuries. India's friendship and solidarity with Africa is very well documented. It's time-tested. It's a relationship which is based on trust, mutual respect and a spirit of friendship. The India Africa Forum Summit held on April 8 and 9, 2008, started at the initiative of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was an attempt to deepen the engagement between India and the African continent. As one of the world's fastest growing economies with a GDP that has crossed a trillion US dollars, India seeks to forge closer economic partnership with its friends in Africa. This partnership is sustainable, dynamic, constantly evolving and moving forward. Multiferous investments are made in projects like railways in Angola, an IT center in Ghana, buses in Congo, power projects in Sudan and Gambia, a major irrigation project in Senegal, floriculture and sugarcane production in Ethiopia, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications in South Africa and much else. The partnership between India and Africa aims to address the concerns of the developing world in the areas of climate change, WTO negotiations and the global economic slowdown. Just as in the past, in the 21st century too, India has a vision for partnership with Africa. The Pan-African e-network project, which supports teleeducation, telemedicine, e-commerce and e-governance, is a vivid example of the possibilities. 47 African countries have already signed up for this ambitious project that places India's capabilities in medicine, education, IT and telecommunications in the hands of all African states. Propelled by a strong political will on both sides, the bonds are growing stronger. The relationship is acquiring new and fresh dimensions. The goal is common to light up the lives of 2 billion people that inhabit our lands.