External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has inaugurated the India Africa Friendship Rose garden ahead of the third India Africa Summit in New Delhi. Almost one fourth of the force has been deployed to secure the four-day summit that commences on Monday (October 26) and is to be attended by the heads of 54 African nations.

The summit will address the key challenges faced by Africa, which includes food, health and environmental security. India hopes to create conditions that stimulate trade and investment flows between India and African countries.

During the four-day summit, the two sides are expected to reinforce their partnership on the global platform and deepen security cooperation including on maritime security and countering terrorism.

Did You Know?

• Shusma Swaraj is the second woman to be India’s Minister of External Affairs, being only after Indira Gandhi.
• She has been elected seven times as a Member of Parliament and three times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
• At the age of 25 in 1977, she became the youngest cabinet minister of north Indian state of Haryana.
• She also served as 5th Chief Minister of Delhi, for a brief term in 1998. (Also the first female Chief Minister of Delhi)
• In Indian general election, 2014, she won from Vidisha constituency in Madhya Pradesh for a second term.