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India to supply e-rickshaws to Senegal as part of Africa outreach

The External Affairs Ministry said India and Senegal enjoy warm and friendly bilateral relations marked by regular high-level contacts and cooperation, including in the multilateral forums.

India to supply e-rickshaws to Senegal as part of Africa outreach

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj (R) shakes hands with Ambassador of Senegal El Hadji Ibou Boye prior to the handover of E-rickshaws during a ceremony in New Delhi on November 16, 2018. India gifted 250 E-rickshaws as a goodwill gesture to Senegal under a "Clean Energy Initiative". (Photo: Prakash Singh/AFP)

As part of its outreach to Africa, India will supply 250 e-rickshaws with lithium-ion batteries on grant basis to Senegal, responding to Senegal President Macky Sall’s request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

At a ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan on Friday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj handed over e-rickshaws symbolically to Ambassador of Senegal El Hadji Ibou Boye. Swaraj and the Senegal envoy took a short ride in the e-rickshaw to experience the ease of mobility that the vehicle would bring for the common man.

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These e-rickshaws, given under India’s clean energy initiative, are made in India by Goenka Electric Motors Vehicles (Pvt) Ltd and procured through HMT International Ltd. India has seen a surge towards battery powered e-Rickshaws in the recent past. The supply of 250 e-rickshaws is expected to assist Senegal in adopting clean and efficient energy sources in the area of urban public transport.

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The External Affairs Ministry said India and Senegal enjoy warm and friendly bilateral relations marked by regular high-level contacts and cooperation, including in the multilateral forums.

Bilateral trade between India and Senegal during 2017-18 was at a record US $ 1.28 billion. India’s Line of Credit (LOC) projects in Senegal (both ongoing and completed) are estimated at more than US $ 300 million. Senegal is a member of International Solar Alliance (ISA).

India is committed to fulfill its role as an important partner for Africa’s development, especially through the initiatives under the India-Africa Forum Summit.

India’s relations will continue to be guided by 10 principles of its engagement with Africa outlined by the PM earlier this year.

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