Opening Remarks by Amb Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, India

Special Address by H E Amb Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of Republic of South Africa to India

Keynote Address by Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi, India

Session 1: Framework for Cooperation

Chair: Amb Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, India

Speakers:

Dr Sharkdam Wapmuk, Associate Professor and Head, Dept of Defence and Security Studies, Nigerian Defence Academy, Nigeria

Dr Folashadé Soulé, Senior Research Associate, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, UK

Prof David Monyae, Associate Professor of Political Science and IR, Co-Director University of Johannesburg Confucius Institute and Centre for Africa China Studies, South Africa

Ms Ruchita Beri, Senior Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi, India

Session II: Partnership for Deepening Trade and Investment Ties

Chair: Amb Gurjit Singh, Former Indian Ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union, Hon. Professor, IIT Indore, New Delhi, India

Speakers:

Prof Stephen Onyeiwu, Professor of Economics and former Chair of Dept, Allegheny College, US

Mr Kwame Owino, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Economic Affairs, Kenya

Prof Hebatallah Adam, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Jindal School of International Affairs, India

Session III: Partnership in Multilateral Forum and Global Governance Reforms

Chair: Prof Ajay Dubey, Professor, School of International Studies, JNU, India

Speakers:

Amb Ruchira Kamboj, Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York and former Indian High

Commissioner to South Africa

Mr Aly Verjee, Senior Associate, Amani Africa and Researcher at University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Dr Kwaku Danso, Dean, Faculty of Academic Affairs, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, Ghana

Session IV: Defence Cooperation and Maritime Security

Chair: VAdm Shekhar Sinha (Retd), Chairman, Board of Trustees, India Foundation, New Delhi

Speakers:

Mr Raj Mohabeer, Officer in Charge, Indian Ocean Commission, Mauritius

Capt Sarabjeet S Parmar (Retd), Distinguished Fellow, Council for Defence and Strategic Research, New Delhi, India

Dr Nicodemus M Minde, Researcher, Institute for Security Studies, Nairobi, Kenya

Session V: Partnership in Critical Minerals and Energy Security

Chair: Dr Shailly Kedia, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi, India

Speakers:

Dr Annika Bose Styczynski, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Research & International Collaboration, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana, India

Dr Sanjay Kumar Pradhan, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of International Relations, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gujarat, India

Dr Sandipani Dash, Assistant Professor, Department of African Studies, University of Delhi, India

Vote of Thanks: Dr Abhishek Mishra, Associate Fellow, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, India

EXEUTIVE SUMMARY

The 5^th IASD (25-26 March 2025) hosted by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) underscored the importance of India-Africa partnership and proposed new areas of cooperation that can be further explored to strengthen their ties. MP-IDSA undertook this initiative in the wake of the African Union’s (AU) inclusion as a permanent member in the G20 under Indian G20 Presidency in 2023 and in the run up to a possible fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) to be held later in the year. The opening remarks stressed that India and Africa’s relation will continue to be anchored on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutually beneficial partnerships which are centred on Africa’s priorities. The special remarks called upon the African diplomatic corps in India to have sustained and regular interactions with their Indian counterparts and highlighted the role of think tanks, universities, and academic research in strengthening the India-Africa partnership. The special remarks called for greater involvement of the Indian private sector in areas like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy transition, education and skills development and digital public infrastructure.

Session I highlighted the bilateral dimension of India-Africa partnership and noted that as India has emerged as an important partner at a time when African nations are pursuing strategic autonomy through diversification of international partnerships. From a steady and incremental approach, the partnership has now evolved into a dynamic one with greater diplomatic engagement. Session II examined how India can maximise trade and investment relations with Africa and called for Indian private companies to set up manufacturing hubs and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Africa and work together with African partners to create an alternative global value chain under the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Session III emphasised the unfair distribution of power in the current global governance system and the need to reform multilateral institutions. Participants highlighted India’s consistent support for encouraging greater African representation and voices in institutions of global governance if the world is to truly become inclusive. Session IV discussed defence and security ties and underscored that Africa occupies a central position in both of India’s primary and secondary areas of maritime interest. Participants discussed the evolution of India’s maritime outlook in the Indian Ocean from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR and the importance of enhancing maritime domain awareness, capacity building programmes, and building on new initiatives like the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME 2025). Session V examined how India and African countries can partner together in the field of strategic minerals and how India can enhance its renewable energy footprint while supporting Africa’s energy transition and provide clean, affordable and accessible energy. In exploiting critical mineral resources, India and African countries must consider the corporate social responsibility diligently.

Inaugural Session

Opening Remarks by Amb Sujan R Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, India

• The India-Africa Dialogue (IASD) hosted by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) is a useful platform to discuss the various aspects of a rapidly and deeply evolving partnership. It aids India’s policy and helps to redefine and transform relations with countries in the African continent.
• The presence of a large Indian diaspora, along with Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals which shaped the struggles of the people of South Africa, provided the foundations for India’s linkages with Africa.
• More recently, India facilitated the entry of the African Union (AU) into the G20 during its Presidency in 2023. Today, as part of the Global South, there is a need to work together to address challenges such as climate change, natural disasters, food and energy security and the adverse impact of rapidly evolving technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data colonization on developing countries.
• Geo-politics and geo-economics are increasingly interlinked and India’s future is intertwined with the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific. With the eastern coast of Africa being an integral part of this region, developments there are of interest and concern to India. In the midst of current global disruptions, India and Africa must work together to build a value-based future and lead the world in a better direction.
• Africa remains a priority for Prime Minister Modi in his third term. The outreach and engagement of the last decade is set to gain new momentum. India is ready to work with Africa as an equal partner, with opportunities to deepen engagement in the security sector through anti-piracy patrols and counter-terrorism exercises.
• The MAHASAGAR initiative recently announced by the Indian Prime Minister adds further value and scope and therefore the role of scholars become critical in taking it to the next level.
• The India-Africa partnership is anchored on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutually beneficial partnerships which are centred on Africa’s priorities. The concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific is further strengthening relations, where individual priorities and interests are being reflected in this dynamic space.

Special Remarks by H E Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of Republic of South Africa to India

• The Bandung Conference of 1955 set the template for a close and strategic partnership between Asia and Africa. The role played by India during the conference provided the foundation upon which India and Africa’s ties rest. The Ten Principles for India-Africa Engagement elaborated by PM Modi in 2018 are an important template for the future partnership as it has various synergies with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
• While there have been setbacks in advancing Agenda 2063, the establishment of the continental wide African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on May 30, 2019 is expected to accelerate intra-African trade by 25% by 2035, requiring strong partnerships.
• Over the decades there has been a proliferation of partnerships with the African continent, which is a good sign. However, there are questions on whether these partnerships are working towards advancing Africa’s goals and priorities.
• India is a trusted friend for Africa without any political baggage and no intent to disturb or influence the sovereignty and autonomy of any African nation. India must seek to leverage its tremendous goodwill across the continent. In this regard, all sectors of the society need to step up with private businesses having a critical role to play in driving this process. The large number of Indian private sector companies operating across the continent is a clear indication that India views Africa as an important partner for mutual benefit and addressing shared economic challenges.
• Think tanks, universities and academic scholars have a vital role in shaping this partnership. By studying the various aspects of the partnership, policy-makers, practitioners and officials could be better informed and help them make the right choices.
• There is a need to re-organise the Africa Group (diplomatic corps) in India in order to fully leverage the opportunities in addition to having more regular and sustained interactions between the African Ambassadors and India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials to discuss key issues of mutual interest.

Keynote Address by Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi

• The geo-political shift from the Trans-Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific makes only the eastern part of Africa relevant in terms of the strategic thinking, the India-Africa partnership has to become more inclusive by also having an Indo-Atlantic dimension.
• Two narratives are emerging as the world is become more multilateral: development for Africa and development by Africa and Africans. From emerging as an aid recipient continent to driving its own growth agenda, the African continent is shaping its own destiny. The current multilateral institutions set up in the post-Second World War period through the Washington consensus seeking structural changes in developing countries has not delivered, particularly in promoting growth in Africa which continues to face health and education challenges.
• Today, the G20 is enriched following the inclusion of the African Union. The task of making it credible and relevant requires the need to harness the talents towards shaping the future development and growth.
• The concept of development and security are interlinked more closely than ever. The African continent is facing numerous challenges in maintaining peace and stability. The challenges have further broadened to energy security, food security, health security, and education. With the widening in the scope of security and development, the future partnerships that Africa would forge should include these new parameters.
• The India-Africa partnership, while on the right trajectory, needs to grow in a number of areas. This includes in the area of trade, one reason for this being the unavailability of hot currencies which could be addressed by doing trade in local currencies, introducing fin-tech solutions, and barter trade. This requires enabling greater investments through Public Private Partnerships and addressing the existing knowledge gaps for doing business in Africa.
• Indian entrepreneurship needs to collaborate with Africa in areas like education and skill formation, energy transition, and agricultural production, and development. These gaps could be filled by entrepreneurs’, not through grants but through commercial partnerships tailored to local needs of African people. India would be a good partner for collaboration in developing a digital public infrastructure which would be key towards reducing the developmental gaps, through the application of new technologies.

Key Takeaways:

• The African Union needs to be the anchor of all partnerships to ensure the overall development and growth of Africa, this collective action will provide better leverage than working individually.
• There is a need to consciously work on reducing the knowledge gap in terms of business policies through greater interaction on various platforms.
• India is a net food exporting country, while Africa despite having a large land mass, and remains a net importer of food. The defining aspect of this partnership would be how India can help Africa move from being a net importer to achieving food self-sufficiency, through the application of new technologies.
• The one ocean concept would be the key towards dealing with the shared challenges being confronted especially in the security front.
• India proposes to host the next India-Africa Forum Summit in the second half of 2025.
• Africa needs many partners with each bringing their individual expertise in which India can help, especially in the area of education and skill development which is a critical area for its future growth.
• Despite our shared historical relations and vision of a multi-polar world order that reflects the current realities, the future strength of the partnership would be shaped by deeper people-to-people interaction which would help reduce the existing knowledge gap and enhance engagements.
• There are major positives in terms of the strategic partnership but much needs to be done on the part of Africa through deeper engagements and undertaking collaborations with private India businesses.

Report prepared by Dr Temjenmeren Ao

Session – I: Framework for Cooperation

The first session examined how the present framework of India and Africa’s engagement is progressing. Speakers deliberated on the main priorities and challenges which shape and impact India’s relationship with African countries.

The chair set the tone for the discussions by highlighting the importance India attaches to developing its partnership with Africa which became evident in India facilitating the African Union’s membership into the G20 under the Indian Presidency. The chair highlighted that India has now become Africa’s third-largest trading partner, after China and the European Union, with trade volume reaching US$ 83.34 billion in 2023-2024 and cumulative Indian investments in Africa worth to be estimated around US$ 75 billion.

Chair:  Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, India

Speakers:

• Dr Sharkdam Wapmuk, Associate Professor and Head, Dept of Defence and Security Studies, Nigerian Defence Academy, Nigeria on Nigeria and India as Strategic Partners in Africa: A Springboard for Deepening Indo-Africa Relations
• Dr Folashadé Soulé, Senior Research Associate, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, UK on India-Africa Relations: Towards a Strategic Alignment of Interests?
• Prof David Monyae, Associate Professor of Political Science and IR, Co-Director University of Johannesburg Confucius Institute and Centre for Africa China Studies, South Africa on Africa-India Relations in Changing Geopolitics
• Ms Ruchita Beri, Senior Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi, India on India-Africa Partnership: Priorities and Prospects

Dr Sharkdam Wapmuk

• Recalled India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to Nigeria in 1962 and highlighted why it was important to resonate with the vision of leaders who played a crucial role in setting the foundations of India-Africa engagement as we look ahead to ‘A Decade of Progress in India-Africa relations’.
• Nigeria’s strategic position in West Africa and its maritime access (through major ports in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Lekki deep sea port) makes it a logistics hub and potentially a gateway for India’s entry into West Africa, both at the sub regional and continental level.
• During former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Nigeria in 2007, the Abuja Declaration elevated India-Nigeria ties to a ‘Strategic Partnership’ level.
• Prime Minister Modi’s address to the Ugandan parliament in 2018 (known as Kampala principles) stressed on a relationship between India and Africa based on an equal footing. His visit to Nigeria in November 2024 during which he received the country’s second-highest civilian award, served as a strategic signal to various audiences, including investors.
• Economic cooperation remains a key pillar of bilateral ties and has increased following the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, palm oil and crude oil constituted a major part of bilateral trade, and the balance of trade favoured Nigeria. However, the trade imbalance remains an issue, as India’s exports are primarily manufacturing goods, while imports from Nigeria are raw materials.
• Since the 1961 visit of the Nigerian national security advisor Nuhu Ribadu to Delhi calling for Indian assistance in setting up the country’s strategic institutions and India’s role in establishing the Nigerian Defence Academy, Command and Staff College in the 1960s and Naval College in 1980, security and defence collaboration has remained a key pillar of ties.
• India and Nigeria have engaged in intelligence sharing and military and technical collaboration in recent years through defence missions, peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and maritime security cooperation.
• Partnerships in the health sector and medical tourism are also pillars of bilateral ties. It is important to address bureaucratic and policy hurdles in order to strengthen bilateral ties. Gaps in ease of travel, visa procedures, and identity perceptions between the two sides have a negative bearing on people-to-people ties.

Dr Folashadé Soulé

• There has been a rapid expansion of India’s diplomatic engagement with Africa since the 2000s, including the 2015 India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), ‘The Ten Guiding Principles for India-Africa Engagement’ in 2018, the opening of 16 new missions and e-visa facilities extended to 33 African countries. This has helped overcome the longstanding criticism that governmental engagement lacked depth and was not sufficiently sustained.
• Historical elements and a shared past in anti-colonial resistance and the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) – provided the foundations of India’s ties with Africa. By increasing engagement with other strategic partners such as India, African countries are seeking to move beyond the US-China rivalry.
• In present times, African countries and their leaders are exercising greater agency in the ‘Age of Choices’ through trade, security, and investment partnerships. Attracting investment is a common priority for African countries, and with the multiplication of ‘Africa+1’ summit platforms, they are competing among themselves to be attractive Foreign Direct Investment destinations.
• African countries are pursuing strategic autonomy through diversification of international partnerships.
• As African countries deepen their economic integration through the AfCFTA, they have taken centre stage in the global investment agenda. They are interested in pushing their strategic priorities, such as non-reciprocal duty-free market access.
• India and Africa have moved from a steady and incremental approach in ties to a dynamic partnership, as demonstrated by India facilitating the entry of the African Union into the G20 in 2023.
• Alongside long-standing cooperation in health, and digital infrastructure, especially the possibility of replicating India’s success in ‘India Stack’ and biometric identification by African countries, is now receiving attention for leapfrogging the development stages.
• A key security challenge is the threat of terrorism in the Sahel region and its spillover to coastal countries. India’s security cooperation with African countries in areas like defence training, intelligence and information sharing, and arms sales will be important.
• India and its African partners need to scale up their communication and visibility strategies, utilising media, social media reports, and high-level visits.

Prof. David Monyae

• The India-Africa relationship is much deeper today than in previous decades. The scope of interactions covers a large canvas of various fields including politics, culture, health, and agriculture.
• India led the campaign to include the African Union in G20, which is a testament to the importance India attaches to strengthening its partnership with Africa.
• Africa is important to India, including its Africa’s role today in the global economy, presence of critical mineral resources like lithium, platinum and cobalt, a growing and vibrant market, and most importantly, Africa’s ability to provide valuable diplomatic support as a bloc of 54 countries at various multilateral fora.
• On India-Africa economic cooperation, it is seen that since the 1960s, India has engaged with Africa through initiatives such as Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Special Commonwealth Africa Assistance Plan (SCAAP). These initiatives are part of India’s development cooperation model with Africa through scholarships, information technology and healthcare.
• The launch of the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) process in 2008 expedited cooperation on multilateral platforms. The initiative resulted in significant growth in trade and investment. Today, India has not only emerged as the fourth largest trading partner of Africa but also has a cumulative investment of US$ 70 billion in Africa which the Confederation of Indian Industries aims to increase to US$ 150 billion by 2030.
• India through its SAGAR policy intends to increase its footprint in Africa’s maritime zone. In 2015, it signed agreements with Mauritius and Seychelles to develop infrastructure on the islands of Agalega and Assumption. Several MoUs including defence cooperation and two Lines of Credit worth US$ 60 million, were singed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kenya in July 2016.
• The Indian Navy collaborates with African countries in the Indian Ocean for anti-piracy, surveillance, and disaster relief operations. It was the first international partner to respond during cyclones in Mozambique in 2019 and Madagascar in 2020. African navies actively participated in Indian Navy’s MILAN biennial exercises. Besides, new initiatives like the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) and the India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave in 2020 have been launched with the aim of exploring avenues for defence cooperation.
• India’s role in UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs) in Africa must be highlighted. There is scope for expansion of people-to-people relations and sustained and regular engagement between India and Africa in the future.

Ms. Ruchita Beri

• India attaches immense importance to its relationship with Africa.
• India views Africa positively and refers to it as a continent of hope. At least four to five African economies are part of the ten fastest-growing economies of the world. India’s partnership with Africa is based on the demand and priorities of Africa and is intended to enhance local capabilities, and open new diplomatic missions.
• When it comes to priorities, these are decided in consultation with African countries. There are a number of projects initiated under the Line of Credit offered by India. The two sides have a number of shared concerns in the fields of health, food and infrastructure. During Covid-19 pandemic, India stepped up its efforts to help the African countries deal with the crisis. India played a vital role through its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.
• India intends to help Africa deal with issues related to food security. Africa has 65% of the world’s arable land but continues to suffer from food shortages. India can offer its expertise in the field of food security and become self-sufficient.
• Digital infrastructure is another priority area where digital infrastructure such as Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the India Stack could be shared.
• India and Africa must organise the fourth IAFS at the earliest possible date. While facilitating private engagement, India must ensure that building local capabilities in Africa gets requisite attention and importance.

Report prepared by Dr. Deepika Saraswat and Dr. Ashish Shukla

Session – II: Partnership for Deepening Trade and Investment Ties

The second session examined how India could maximise trade and investment relations with Africa by leveraging the existing frameworks. It discussed strategic ideas to enhance economic partnership and promote sustainable prosperity between India and African nations.

The session was chaired by Amb. Gurjit Singh, who in his opening remarks noted that the African continent provides various trade and infrastructure opportunities to its international partners at a time when the world has become more transactional. He emphasised the importance of India and Africa working together to build a mutually beneficial relationship. He highlighted several components of India-Africa relations including trade, development cooperation, Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) and Information Technology (IT).

He recalled that investments in Africa since 2008 have helped India gain economic credit and garner diplomatic influence. He suggested that a trade and investment-led model of bilateral ties does not follow political dictates but looks at the sheer possibility of profit and development. On the other hand, FDI-led investment provides opportunities to access regional markets and expand economic influence. He emphasised the role of academia, governments, business and Indian diaspora in strengthening trade and investment ties with Africa and also added that the Indian government should seek to encourage more investment in Africa by the Indian private sector.

Chair: Amb Gurjit Singh, former Indian Ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union, Hon. Professor, IIT Indore, New Delhi, India.

Speakers:

• Prof Stephen Onyeiwu, Professor of Economics and former Chair of Dept, Allegheny College, US on Strengthening India-Africa Strategic Trade and Investment Partnerships in Frontier Industries
• Mr Kwame Owino, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Economic Affairs, Kenya on India and Africa: Exploring the Path Towards a Free Trade Area
• Prof Hebatallah Adam, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Jindal School of International Affairs, India on Enhancing India-Africa Trade and Investment: Leveraging AfCFTA and DFTP Programs for Mutual Growth and Economic Integration

Prof Stephen Onyeiwu

• India and Africa’s trade and investment ties are on solid footing and both sides need to strengthen it further. India and Africa trade figures are increasing year-on-year reaching US$ 83 billion in 2023. One of the key drivers of bilateral trade is India’s import of oil resources from the continent. That has resulted in India becoming Africa’s fourth-largest trading partner.
• India should seek to export high-quality manufacturing goods. At present India is exporting goods to African nations in sectors like textiles, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles but must seek to diversify its export basket to the continent by selling hi-tech products.
• At present, most of India’s investments are for huge projects from bigger businesses such as Adani, Ambani, Tata, Mahindra & Mahindra, etc., overlooking the informal sectors. The focus of investment must shift to the 80% of informal sectors in Africa that empowers more people.
• Africa and India should emphasise cooperating on new and emerging technologies such as AI, robotics and digital public infrastructures in order not to fall behind. These frontier technologies are going to create a huge market all over the world which is very likely to be exploited by the US and China in the near future.
• Food and agro-processing sectors are important areas for targeting Indian investments due to Africa’s constant challenge of dealing with food insecurity. Investments in agro-processing can create jobs, especially for rural women of the continent. He also suggested that India and Africa should create an alternative global value chain (GVC).
• The Chair noted India’s investment in Africa is difficult to monitor and calculate accurately because many big Indian investments comes from foreign lands. For example, Airtel’s investment in Africa is an Indian investment that comes from the Netherlands, and the Indian company Godrej’s investment in Nigeria comes from Singapore.

Kwame Owino

• India-Africa trade patterns have witnessed significant shifts, including trade diversification, strategic partnerships and geographical expansion. The trade basket has expanded, leading to increased volumes and mutual economic benefits.
• There is great scope for engagement with one-third of land-locked countries in Africa who are dependent on open trade regimes.
• There has been an eight-fold increase in trade volumes between India and Africa from 2000 to 2010. The bilateral trade has further diversified with the evolution of the IT sector.
• India-Africa trade ties have revived since the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in the recognition of the vitality in strengthening value chains in critical sectors at a time when there is a freeze in multilateral advancement.
• Lastly, the importance of the Indo Pacific region for Africa must be underlined, in which significant number of global activities are concentrated. This region provides immense potential for Africa and India to collaborate.

Prof. Hebatallah Adam

• Trade and investment partnership between India and Africa has experienced substantial expansion, with bilateral trade reaching US$ 83.34 billion in 2023-24 and India’s cumulative investments in Africa reaching US$ 75 billion. This partnership is set for further growth with the implementation of the AfCFTA, which presents a consolidated market of 1.3 billion people, and India’s DFTP program, which grants preferred access for African products to enter the Indian market.
• Significant potential exists in terms of expanding trade portfolios, improving infrastructure, and digital connectivity, promoting value addition in African companies, and engaging in sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, and agriculture.
• Challenges like regulatory barriers, infrastructure deficiencies, and political uncertainties must be resolved to realise the complete potential of India -Africa cooperation. By aligning with the objectives of the AfCFTA and using the DFTP program, India can enhance Africa’s integration into global value chains, facilitate Africa’s industrialisation, and establish a mutually beneficial partnership for both regions.
• India and Africa’s ties are based upon South-South cooperation, mutual trust, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and two-way collaborations. Potential sectors for collaboration are energy, security, peacekeeping, trade and investments.
• India’s model of engagement with Africa is more transformational than transactional and aimed at people’s development. Progressing together encompasses the motto of India and Africa’s ties. .
• India is already providing technical training to African students in various IT programs. Many Africans have benefitted from the Pan African e-Network Project (PAeNP) under which India set up a fibre-optic network to provide satellite connectivity, tele-medicine and tele-education to university students and medical practitioners based in Africa.
• India should look to invest in Africa’s education, technology, capacity building, and enhance trade and investment. India must diversify beyond traditional sectors such as IT, renewable energy, and agro engineering. India should manufacture in Africa to export value added products, and build Africa’s manufacturing and transportation infrastructure which the continent lacks.
• India should share its experiences in agro processing, renewable energy and pharmaceutical. These sectors will create jobs in Africa that will empower the people. India should invest more to cater to Africa’s huge market and explore possibility of setting up Special Economic Zones. India should also consider Africa for investment because the continent has rich natural resources, high percentage of youth population, and growing middle class.
• The chair remarked that Africa can grab the opportunity of exporting lentil pulses to India (only Tanzania and Mozambique presently does) and cited the example of Myanmar that exports lentils to India of worth US$ 1 billion a year. India has made a progress by investing in lentils in Africa and have also set up processing centre.

Key Takeaways:

• India should follow a new structure of trade in Africa dealing with high-quality manufacturing goods.
• India’s investments must cover Africa’s 80% of informal sectors.
• Food and agro sector are significant field for Indian investment in Africa.
• Africa can find new opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region because of the increasing global activities in the region.
• India must diversify beyond traditional sectors such as emerging technologies, IT, renewable energy, agro engineering that can empower the Africans.
• India should work together with Africa in creating an alternative global value chain.
• India should set up manufacturing hubs and SEZs in Africa.

Report prepared by Dr. Abhishek Kumar Darbey

Session–III: Partnership in Multilateral Forum and Global Governance Reforms

The third session discussed the issues of weakening of the multilateral institutions which were created in the post-World War II period, the uneven distribution of power in the international order, and the partnership between Africa and India for the democratisation of the global governance system.

Chair: Prof Ajay Dubey, Professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India

Speakers:

1. Amb Ruchira Kamboj, Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York and former Indian High Commissioner to South Africa, on India’s advocacy for the inclusion of the African Union in the G20
2. Mr Aly Verjee, Senior Associate, Amani Africa and Researcher at University of Gothenburg, Sweden on Approaching Multilateral Forums and Global Governance Reforms during the Decline of Multilateralism and Global Governance
3. Dr Kwaku Danso, Dean, Faculty of Academic Affairs, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, Ghana on From Objects to Subjects of Global Governance: Partnering to Center Africa and India in a Changing World Order

Amb Ruchira Kamboj, Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in New York and former Indian High Commissioner to South Africa, made a presentation on “India’s advocacy for the inclusion of the African Union in the G20”.

• In her presentation, Amb Kamboj discussed about India’s relations with the African continent. She referred to the historical injustices done to Africa and issues that have brought India and Africa closer.
• The inclusion of the African Union in G20 in September 2023 was a historic moment which reflected New Delhi’s efforts to elevate the international position of Africa and make the multilateral institution and system more inclusive.
• India has committed to give priorities to the interests of the African countries and those of the Global South. From the Indian perspective, the multilateral intuitions are important and they need to be reformed to make them democratic and reflective of the global challenges confronted by the world today.
• Amb Kamboj emphasised that the African nations applauded India’s role in facilitating the participation of the African Union in the G20.

Mr Aly Verjee, Senior Associate, Amani Africa and Researcher at University of Gothenburg, Sweden presented his paper online on “Approaching Multilateral Forums and Global Governance Reforms during the Decline of Multilateralism and Global Governance”.

• Mr Verjee in his presentation describing the ongoing chaos in the multilateral institutions. The exit of the United States from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Washington’s withdrawal of aid and assistance to the developing countries under President Donal Trump’s second term would be detrimental for African nations.
• The speaker highlighted that the response from India and Africa would be significant in meeting the challenges posed by ongoing developments in the global order. In this regard, the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India has been supportive of greater participation of Africa in forums of global governance.
• Mr Verjee discussed the cooperation between India and the African countries to meet the challenges posed by the shifting global order, and the damages caused to the multilateral institutions due to the advent of second Donald Trump administration in the United States.
• According to Mr Verjee, greater participation in the multilateral institutions by the African countries may not be beneficial for the latter if the former lose influence and power. For, example Africa’s or India’s participation in the G20 or the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) would have less impact if the powerful nations do not cooperate among themselves.

Dr Kwaku Danso, Dean, Faculty of Academic Affairs, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, Ghana presented his paper on “From Objects to Subjects of Global Governance: Partnering to Center Africa and India in a Changing World Order”.

• Dr Danso in his presentation critiqued the present global governance system which was established after the end of the World War II. The inherent “double standards” in the current international order has led to the dominance of the Global North and marginalisation of the Global South.
• He asserted that the need to reform and “decolonise” the institutions of global governance in order to make them suitable in the current global circumstances and mitigate the existing disparities in the international system.
• In this regard, Africa and India could make significant efforts to bring a desirable shift in democratising the global and multilateral institutions, and establish a fair distribution of power in the world.
• Dr. Danso concluded by remarking that the level of collaboration between Africa and India would be important in making them either the “subjects” or the “objects” of the international order in the coming times.

Key Takeaways

• The papers presented in this session largely emphasised on the unfair distribution of power in the current global governance system, and the need to reform the multilateral institutions.
• The papers also asserted the need for closer engagement between the African countries and India to overcome the challenges posed by the weakening of the global institutions, and to democratise the international system.
• India’s commitment to make the multilateral intuitions more inclusive has been significant in developing India-Africa partnership.
• Despite closer engagement between India and the African countries, the cooperation of the powerful nations would be essential to maintain the viability of the multilateral institutions.

Report prepared by Dr Ranjit Kumar Dhawan

Session IV – Defence Cooperation and Maritime Cooperation

The fourth session examined how African nations in recent years have made greater efforts towards evolving a common vision for dealing with the continent’s maritime challenges for sustainable development. The participants discussed the scope for India to enhance maritime security cooperation with African countries and the common maritime challenges that are faced by both India and Africa.

Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, in his opening remarks, highlighted the growing uncertainty in the international system following the election of Donald Trump as the US President. He stated that these uncertainties will create new alignments and alter the dynamics of international cooperation, particularly in the maritime domain. VAdm Sinha pointed out that the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is bound to become a centre for geopolitical competitions and territorial contestations. He highlighted the need for India to foster greater collaboration with other IOR littoral nations, including countries in the East African Coast, to address common maritime security challenges.

Chair: VAdm Shekhar Sinha (Retd), Chairman, Board of Trustees, India Foundation, New Delhi

Speakers:

• Mr Raj Mohabeer, Officer in Charge, Indian Ocean Commission, Mauritius on Scope for enhancing India-Africa cooperation to address maritime security challenges in the Western Indian Ocean
• Capt Sarabjeet S. Parmar (Retd), Distinguished Fellow, Council for Defence and Strategic Research, New Delhi, India on India and Africa: Enhancing Defence Cooperation and Maritime Security
• Dr Nicodemus M Minde, Researcher, Institute for Security Studies, Nairobi, Kenya on India-Africa Defence Cooperation and Maritime Security: The Case of Kenya
• Abyssinia Abay Mengistu, India Africa Security Fellow, MP-IDSA and Lecturer in International Law and Organizations, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia on Assessing the Impact of AfINDEX 2023 on India’s Security role in Africa

Mr Raj Mohabeer

• There is a need to enhance the India-Africa cooperation to address maritime security challenges, particularly in the Western Indian Ocean (WIOR). Intergovernmental organisations such as the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) have a key role in promoting security and stability in the WIOR. Drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing are the major maritime security challenges faced by WIOR nations. In this context, the following recommendations are made to enhance India-Africa Cooperation for jointly addressing the maritime security challenges of the WIOR:
• Promoting Regional Institutions and Mechanisms: It is impossible for a single nation to ensure the security and stability of vast maritime regions such as the WIOR. Hence, it is important to foster greater regional and international cooperation particularly on issues such as piracy off the coast of Somalia. Promoting regional institutions can lead to stronger cooperation between India and the WIOR Nations on maritime security issues. The creation of regional conventions and enforcement mechanisms for implementing joint efforts to address security challenges in the WIOR is vital. This will also lead to the streamlining of capacity-building efforts jointly undertaken by India and African nations at a bilateral level.
• Greater Focus on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): One of the key challenges of the WIOR is the lack of MDA. Hence, there is an urgent need to adopt an intelligence- based focus for tracking the movement of vessels and other activities on the high seas of the WIOR.
• Reorientation of National Perspective on Maritime Security Issues: As the national security perspective of most WIOR nations has been shaped by colonial heritage, there is considerable sea-blindness. This has led to an inadequate national framework among WIOR nations for addressing maritime security challenges. Due to this, independent maritime security agencies in the WIOR nations often work in silos, leading to a lack of coordination. India as an observer of IOC can play a vital role in guiding the security discourse of the WIOR.

Capt Sarabjeet S. Parmar (Retd.)

• Africa occupies a central position in both of India’s primary and secondary areas of maritime interest. Maritime threats in the region are fundamentally hybrid in nature with challenges like piracy, terrorism, natural disaster and pandemics. Apart from these threats, there is the looming threat to submarine cables in the IOR, which are economic lifelines of the entire region. In this context, the following recommendations for enhancing synergy between India and Africa to address this range of maritime security issues is given below:
• Envisaging a Strategic Framework for Collaboration: India’s Maritime Outlook based on Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and Mutual and Holistic Advancement for SAGAR (MAHASAGAR) can serve as a broad template for envisaging a strategic framework required for guiding collaboration between India and Africa on maritime security issues. Apart from that, the Gandhinagar Declaration made in 2020 during the India Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) can provide a holistic roadmap for tangibly enhancing collaboration between India and Africa.
• Cooperation in Capacity Building Programmes: Joint training programmes between the Indian Navy and the navies of Africa can be a critical component for maritime capacity building and capability enhancement. This will particularly help African navies to conduct maritime security operations, both independently and in coordination with other maritime forces in the region. Joint exercises can enable both Indian and African Navies to share best practices, procedures and doctrinal learnings with each other. Exercises like the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, and India-Mozambique Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT-TRILAT) can play a crucial role in this endeavour.
• Joint Deployment in the High Seas: Policing the High Risk Areas (HRA) of the WIOR requires the pooling of resources between India and African navies. Hence, envisaging frameworks for enabling joint deployment of the assets of the Indian and the African navies in common areas of interest can play a crucial role in shaping a favourable maritime environment.
• Collaboration in Enhancing MDA and Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA): There must be collaborative efforts between India and Africa to enhance MDA and UDA in the WIOR. This is particularly important for securing the Sea Lines of Communication and undersea infrastructure which are critical for the economy of the region.

Dr. Nicodemus M Minde

• Maritime security, defence cooperation and regional stability have always been the key areas of focus in India-Kenya bilateral relations. Kenya as a gateway to East Africa and the IOR is fully aligned with India’s SAGAR initiative. Both nations have a long history of joint military training, naval exchanges and technological assistance. Both India and Kenya view piracy, maritime terrorism and IUU fishing as common maritime threats. In this context, the following challenges and opportunities for maritime cooperation between India and Kenya are elucidated below:
• Kenya’s Consonance with India’s SAGAR Initiative – Kenya’s Blue Economy goals are strongly aligned with India’s SAGAR initiative. The Indian Navy has safely escorted over 3,500 vessels in the region since 2008. As a result of this Kenya’s fish exports have increased by 20% to US$ 100 million in 2023.
• Kenya’s Preference of India as a Security Partner – The Indian Navy’s soft power outreach to Kenya through training, goodwill visits and technological aid has been a great success. India’s US$ 250 million aid to Kenya in 2024 has been very well received. As a result, Kenya rejected the Chinese naval base proposal in 2019, favouring India’s non-hegemonic approach.
• India’s Limitation and Constraints: The potential of India’s security assistance to Kenya is constrained by India’s US$ 73 billion defence budget as opposed to China’s US$ 230 billion. Also, there have been maintenance issues with the patrol vessels donated by India to Kenya. This has undermined Kenya’s ability to counter Al-Shabaab in their territorial waters.
• Exploring the Avenues of Defence Cooperation: The proposed US$ 20 million India-Kenya joint naval task force has the potential to cut piracy and terrorism response times by 50%. Also India can consider increasing the officer training slots for Kenyan military personnel to 100 annually by 2025. India can contribute to advanced MDA cooperation with Kenya by a US$ 5 million investment in drones and satellite systems by 2027 to reduce IUU fishing losses by 50 percent.

Mr. Abyssinia Abay Mengistu

The following challenges regarding India-Africa cooperation on maritime security were highlighted:

• Prioritisation of Domestic Politics over Maritime Security Issues: Cooperation between India and Africa in defence and maritime security is deeply interwoven or interlinked with domestic political dynamics which prioritises regional survival than national survival. Due to this, national security is deprioritised in a sense that leaders divert resources away from the maritime security initiatives to maintain political power. Reports from the African Union regional bodies also highlighted how domestic politics often overshadow strategic maritime concerns.
• Detrimental Role of Regional Power Rivalry: Cooperation in the maritime domain is further undermined by regional power rivalries. For instance, rivalries between these regional nations such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia versus Egypt issues. These rivalries eventually lead to fragmented efforts in addressing collective maritime security challenges.
• Adapting Engagement Policy: India’s reputation of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations is a major asset to foster greater collaboration with the African nations. India could still adopt a more adaptive engagement strategy that would allow for informal support and capacity building, focusing on local government structures. India can adopt community-based maritime security initiatives that would engage local populations and governance structures.

Report prepared by Dr. R. Vignesh

Session – V: Partnership in Critical Minerals and Energy Security

The fifth session examined how India and African countries can partner together in the field of strategic minerals and how India can enhance its renewable energy footprint while supporting Africa’s energy transition and provide clean, affordable and accessible energy.

The session was chaired by Dr. Shailly Kedia who set the tone of discussion by highlighting the growing importance of critical minerals in the world and in particular to India’s growing demand of critical minerals to meet renewable energy source. She underscored that although African countries remained the backbone for critical mineral resources, yet the mineral sector continues to remain trapped in the bottom of value chain, where the African region are lacking in processing and manufacturing technologies. Due to domination of mineral industries by China, African countries are finding it difficult and challenging to fully realize the development of its economy.

Chair: Dr. Shailly Kedia, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi.

Speakers:

• Annika Bose Styczynski, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Research & International Collaboration, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana, India on Getting Real About Low-Carbon Energy Technologies: Partnerships in Critical Minerals for Energy Security
• Sanjay Kumar Pradhan, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of International Relations, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gujarat, India on India, Africa and Energy Transition: Partnership for Critical Minerals
• Sandipani Dash, Assistant Professor, Department of African Studies, University of Delhi on Bharat-Africa Partnership: Progress and Possibility in Sub-Soil Resource Sector

Dr. Annika Bose Styczynski  

• Explained the importance of critical minerals and their applications through presentation on, “Getting Real about Low-Carbon Energy Technologies: Partnerships in Critical Minerals for Energy Security.” India needs to collaborate with other states in order to counter Chinese hegemony in mineral sector.
• Energy is vital for the economic development of society. Though coal and petroleum still dominate the energy sector, in recent times critical minerals have become increasingly imperative due to transition of energy resources to clean energy in order to mitigate the Impact of climate change.
• Critical minerals are a subset of minerals that are essential for the manufacturing and technological applications. Various countries have identified several minerals as critical minerals. However, minerals like nickel, manganese, lithium, and copper have been designated as critical minerals by most countries. Each critical mineral has its own specific purpose or usage. For instance, light rare earth elements are used for generators and motors for wind power and electric vehicles and lithium is used in batteries.
• In the critical minerals sector, China continues to dominate in terms of raw material extraction and processing as well as in producing goods. It is only in recent years that India and other Western countries have started taking steps to proactively pursue critical minerals.
• China is the dominant player in the African market, including in mining as well as in terms of investment and consumption of critical minerals. One of the key features of China’s policy is based on extending easy credit to the companies through state-sponsored entities.
• In spite of Chinese domination in African region in critical minerals sectors, there are concerns about the transparency of Chinese mining operations, environmental impact and labour practices. There are also reports that local communities are not benefiting in terms of economic development like adequate employment opportunities.
• India largely depends on the import of critical minerals, with nearly 80% of Lithium being imported from China. In order to counter China’s domination in critical minerals sector, one key element is for India to establish collaborations with African countries. India’s signing of an MoU in October 2024 on critical minerals with the United States and the launch of ‘National Critical Mineral Missions’ in January 2025 will also help streamline the supply chain of critical minerals and reduce China’s monopoly in this sector.
• Cooperation on critical mineral sectors between India and Africa has emerged recently. However there are fundamental issues, which need to be addressed, i.e., transparency, regulations, human rights issue and environmental degradation. Every stakeholder needs to remember the UN Sustainable Development Goals as most African countries are lagging behind. Hence, in exploiting critical mineral resources, India and African countries must consider the corporate social responsibility diligently.

Dr. Sanjay Kumar Pradhan

• Mitigating climate change is one of the fundamental factors driving the world’s search for critical minerals. Several minerals such as nickel, manganese, PGM, cobalt, lithium, silica and tantalum fall under the category of critical minerals.
• As India is one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide, achieving the Paris agreements remain crucial. Hence, transition to clean energy becomes necessary. Yet, India largely depends on imports of several critical minerals to support clean energy. Report indicates that by 2030, the demand for lithium will increase to 20,845 tonnes and the demand for cobalt to 5,914 tonnes.
• The African region possesses about 30% of global critical minerals. Hence, cooperation with African countries is vital. Currently, India imports a large percentage of critical minerals from South Africa, Gabon, Madagascar, Zambia and Tanzania. Meanwhile, 10 MoUs have been signed for geological surveys, access, and processing of critical minerals. The Indian Government has also initiated for getting a block (where?) on priority basis, assisting Indian private companies and in 2021 launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative with Japan and Australia.
• Though, in recent years the African Union has adopted several mechanisms for the sustainable development of mineral resources, i.e., African Mining Vision, African Minerals Governance Framework, several challenges including transparency in the mineral sector continues to remain.
• There is a need for India and Africa to maintain a win-win situation in the mineral sector particularly by exploring joint ventures with foreign companies and developing an ecosystem for refining and processing critical minerals. Establishment of a critical minerals fund, recovery of critical metals through recycling, and the establishment of national institute to conduct research on critical mineral resources and empower training skills to the African mining practitioners is imperative.

Dr. Sandipani Dash

• Elaborating on the topic “Bharat-Africa Partnership: Progress and Possibility in Sub-Soil Resource Sector”, the speaker explored the common shared values between India and African countries, the policy frameworks that have been implemented over the years and the practical approach in relations to natural resources.
• On the shared value, the concept of ‘mother earth’ was underscored where both India and African have deep-rooted belief and reverence of nature. In other words, communities in India and Africa have deep respect for nature from where food and water resources are derived for the prosperity of human civilization. Such reverence of nature is evident in numerous philosophical literatures as well as archaeological sources. Evidence indicates that communities in India and African region worship nature for prosperity.
• From the late 18^th century, however, such traditional beliefs and reverence of nature has change into an object of control, particularly unleashed by the European colonial powers. Consequently, slavery system and industrial revolution managed to flourish in England and in other European imperialist empire. Hence, in the name of resources capture, conflict and wars were regular feature in the African region and in India.
• Following decolonization, both the African region and India have witnessed a common policies orientation by opening up their market to the outside world for pursuing development. Indeed, economic liberalization led to market drive-export growth. Meanwhile, in international forum both India and African region had common agenda for inclusive development. Such principle implies that both India and African have shifted from the scramble for resources to pursuing inclusive, sustainable development.

Key Takeaways:

• Collaborations between India and African countries in critical minerals is vital for win-win situation. However in the backdrop of signing MoUs for accessing critical minerals, stakeholders need to ensure sustainable development.
• Formulation of sound policies, especially for critical mineral resources is crucial. Hence, setting up national institute for conducting research critically is indispensable, where it will aid policymakers to implement strategy effectively.

Report prepared by Dr. Opangmeren Jamir