India–Africa Relations

19.11.2025

India–Africa Relations

Context        

India–Africa ties have evolved into a strategic partnership based on shared history, anti-colonial solidarity, and cooperation in trade, development, security, and technology. Africa’s 2023 G20 permanent membership, supported by India, underscores renewed global collaboration.

About the Partnership

Background

• Centuries of Indian Ocean trade forged strong cultural and commercial links.
   
• Cooperation in the Non-Aligned Movement and UN diplomacy strengthened ties during the Cold War.
   
• Post-1990s, India shifted focus to investment, training programs (ITEC, ICCR), and advocacy for Africa’s global representation.
   

Contemporary Engagement Themes

India prioritises development projects, digital collaboration, maritime security, and people-centric capacity building.

Economic and Trade Cooperation

Trade & Investment

• India–Africa trade exceeds $100 billion; India is Africa’s third-largest partner.
   
• FDI of roughly $75 billion spans telecom, energy, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and digital sectors.
   
• Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) offers 98% tariff-free access to 38 LDCs, boosting textiles, minerals, and agro exports.
   

Development Financing

• India extended $10 billion Lines of Credit across 189 projects in 42 countries, including power, railways, irrigation, and drinking water.
   
• Digital initiatives like e-VBAB provide tele-education and telemedicine.
   

Capacity Building

• Over 40,000 African professionals trained through Indian programs.
   
• India’s first overseas IIT in Zanzibar offers AI and data science courses.
   

Maritime and Security Cooperation

• AI-KEYME 2025 naval exercise with nine African navies enhanced maritime security and disaster response.
   
• India contributes to UN peacekeeping in Congo and Sudan.
   

Digital & FinTech Partnership

• African nations explore UPI, Aadhaar-like ID, and e-governance adoption for financial inclusion.
   

Energy & Climate Collaboration

• Partnerships in solar, green hydrogen, and EVs support sustainable development goals.
   

Challenges

• China’s trade dominance ($280 billion annually) overshadows India.
   
• Bureaucratic delays slow Indian project execution.
   
• India–Africa Forum Summit has not occurred since 2015.
   
• Regional security instability threatens investments.
   
• Limited air and sea connectivity restricts trade and mobility.
   

Way Forward

• Strengthening Institutions: Regularise the Forum Summit and set up a permanent secretariat.
• Digital Corridors: Connect UPI, DigiLocker, and ID systems with African platforms.
• Strategic Co-Investments: Collaborate in green hydrogen, EV minerals, semiconductors, and AI startups.
• Faster Project Delivery: Empower local teams to accelerate Line of Credit projects.
• Maritime Cooperation: Annual naval exercises and logistics agreements for maritime security.
• People-to-People Ties: Expand scholarships, academic exchanges, and Indian educational institutions.

Conclusion

India–Africa relations are at a transformative stage. Strong institutions, digital partnerships, and joint sustainable development can anchor this strategic partnership as a central pillar for the Global South’s shared growth.