Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

India’s engagement with Africa has undergone a profound transformation, shifting from political solidarity rooted in anti-colonialism to a development-centric, demand-driven partnership shaped by Africa’s evolving priorities. With Africa emerging as a major hub of economic growth, digital innovation and demographic dynamism, India’s cooperation now focuses on capacity-building, infrastructure, digital public goods and mutually beneficial trade.

Body :

The Key Factors Driving the Evolving Partnership Between India and Africa

• Economic Complementarity and Expanding Trade: India and Africa share remarkable economic complementarity.
  • Africa provides critical raw materials, while India offers manufactured goods, pharmaceuticals, engineering products and digital technology.
  • Bilateral trade has grown from USD 56 billion in 2019–20 to over USD 100 billion in 2024–25, reflecting strong economic momentum.
    • India aims to double exports to USD 200 billion by 2030, leveraging Africa’s growing demand for affordable goods, telecom solutions and healthcare products.
• Industrial and Infrastructure Development: India’s growing investments in Africa’s industrialisation demonstrate a long-term commitment to shared prosperity.
  • Indian firms have established manufacturing units—particularly in pharmaceuticals and IT—in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, creating employment and supporting regional value chains.
  • India also contributes to Africa’s infrastructure development through logistics partnerships, transport corridors aligned with PM Gati Shakti, and smart-city collaborations.
  • With a projected 4% GDP growth in 2025, Africa represents a major expansion frontier for Indian businesses.
• Strategic and Security Cooperation: India’s strategic presence in Africa is expanding through defence diplomacy, counterterrorism training and maritime cooperation.
  • With shared concerns over piracy, extremism and instability in the Indian Ocean Region, India partners with African navies on joint exercises, hydrography, surveillance and capacity building.
  • India’s strategic presence in Africa is growing through initiatives like the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025, jointly conducted with nine African navies to improve anti-piracy and humanitarian operations.
• People-to-People Bonds and Development Cooperation and Human Capacity Building: The 3 million-strong African–Indian diaspora and rising educational and cultural exchanges form the emotional foundation of the partnership.
  • India has extended over USD 12 billion in concessional loans and USD 700 million in grants, supporting infrastructure, agriculture, energy and education projects across the continent.
  • Since its inception in 1964, the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme has been pivotal in enhancing the skills of African professionals.
• Shared Global South Identity and Multilateral Advocacy: India and Africa often collaborate in global forums to champion the interests of developing nations.
  • Both seek reforms in the UN Security Council, WTO, and climate finance frameworks, advocating for fairness, technology transfer and sustainable development.
  • African Union’s inclusion in the G20 during India’s Presidency reflects India’s commitment to promoting a more representative global governance structure.

The Major Challenges Hindering the Growth of the India-Africa Partnership:

• Strategic Inertia and Diplomatic Engagement Gaps: A significant hurdle is India’s delayed political engagement with Africa.
  • The prolonged gap of nearly a decade since the last India-Africa Forum Summit demonstrates a lack of continuous strategic dialogue, which weakens India’s leadership position on the continent.
• Complex Security Landscape and Fragile Governance: Africa’s security environment is unstable, marked by multiple military coups and ongoing armed conflicts in countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
  • Weak governance, insurgency, and rising radicalization hamper India’s ability to effectively engage in defense cooperation, peacekeeping, and counterterrorism efforts.
• Structural Economic and Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Africa’s infrastructure remains a barrier to deepening trade and investment.
  • The fragmented transport and logistics systems, a colonial legacy designed primarily for resource export, raise transaction costs and hinder intra-African trade crucial for building regional value chains.
• Financial Constraints and Global Systemic Biases: African economies face a worsening debt crisis, with debt-to-GDP ratios doubling from 30% to 60% in under a decade.
  • This financial fragility, compounded by systemic biases in global financial institutions, restricts African countries’ fiscal space for development projects.
• Intense Multipolar Geopolitical Competition: India competes for influence with dominant players such as China, which has invested heavily through the Belt and Road Initiative and established its first overseas military base in Djibouti, alongside extensive aid and infrastructure projects.

Key Measures to Strengthen Bilateral Engagement with Africa:

• Institutionalize a Robust Multi-Stakeholder Strategic Dialogue: India should establish an annual India-Africa Strategic Partnership Forum involving governments, private sector players, academia, and civil society stakeholders to facilitate continuous, adaptive policy dialogues and joint agenda setting.
• Design Sector-Specific Roadmaps Aligned with African Priorities: India must co-develop detailed sectoral and country-specific roadmaps in consultation with African governments and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
• Expand Financial Cooperation through Innovative Mechanisms: Recognising Africa’s growing debt vulnerability, India should augment concessional credit lines, develop blended finance tools, and participate in multilateral debt relief efforts.
• Scale Capacity Building and Skill Development Programs: India should expand ITEC programs, scholarships, and vocational training centers across African nations.
• Modernize Trade and Payment Mechanisms: To significantly boost bilateral trade and reduce transaction costs, India must move beyond traditional dollar-based settlements and simplify trade logistics.
• Deepen Digital Public Infrastructure Cooperation: India must leverage its expertise in digital public goods such as UPI, digital identity systems, and e-governance to support Africa’s digital transformation.
• Strengthen People-to-People and Cultural Ties: Enhancing educational exchanges, cultural diplomacy, and diaspora engagement will create strong social capital.
• Enhance Maritime Security and Defense Partnerships: India should intensify cooperation on maritime domain awareness, joint military exercises, and anti-piracy operations to ensure stability in the Indian Ocean region.

Conclusion:

India-Africa relations epitomise a historic partnership built on shared values and mutual aspirations. As Dr. Shashi Tharoor eloquently stated at the UN, “India and Africa have traversed similar paths, sharing values and dreams of freedom and development.” To realise this vision, India must institutionalise strategic dialogues, align investments with African priorities, enhance capacity building, and foster enduring cultural and digital ties. Such a multidimensional approach will ensure a resilient, equitable partnership that advances sustainable development and global solidarity.