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.
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.
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.