Indian start-ups take Indian innovations to Africa

Twenty- One Indian Start-ups showcase their technologies in Kenya

11th July2016, Nairobi: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
jointly with the Technology Development Board, Government of India took a delegation of
twenty one Indian innovation led start-ups to Nairobi, Kenya showcased at the business enclave
that was addressed the Honble PM Shri Narendra Modi and the President of Kenya on 11 July
2016.
FICCI and TDB intend to begin a program dubbed African Development through Indian
Technology and Innovation (ADITI) under the slogan 'India shares because it cares' as
envisaged in the historic joint statement of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India and more than 40
heads of States of Africa during the biggest ever India Africa Forum Summit III (IAFS III) in
New Delhi in October 2015.
Responding to the needs of African markets, these technologies and innovations provide low cost
affordable solutions for service delivery at last mile in priority sectors such as agriculture,
healthcare, water and sanitation and financial inclusion. FICCI and Government of India
endeavour through this delegation and exhibition to further the bilateral cooperation between
India and Africa through technology and knowledge exchange. The technologies showcased
have been developed, tested and validated in India and are now being replicated and scaled to
Africa.
The participating companies come from several national flagship programs such as the DSTLockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Programme, Millennium Alliance and DRDO-FICCI
Accelerated Technology Assessment and Commercialization. They represent a unique
opportunity for India to enhance its South-South cooperation while opening new markets for
Indian Start-Ups.
Some of the technologies exhibited include CassavaTech, a patented technology that brings
down capital cost of processing Cassava from USD 15,000 to USD 200 and reduces operating
cost from USD 20 to USD 2 for 200 kg processing capacity. The technology further reduces
drying time for Cassava from 10 days to 10 hours producing high quality Cassava flour. Another
technology being showcased is ~100% compostable menstrual hygiene solution providing
affordable pads to adolescent girls and women. This is done using a unique low cost, low
electricity consuming machine that produces 1200-2400pads/8-10 hrs through community
participation from 12-16 women(no specific skills required) as production workforce.