India–Africa Partnership Gains Strategic Momentum as Experts Call for Expanded Trade, Tech and Climate Cooperation
Delegates at a conference hosted by the Chintan Research Foundation in collaboration with the USANAS Foundation highlighted the growing importance of India–Africa engagement in shaping a multipolar global order. The day-long event, themed “India–Africa Partnership in a Changing Global Order,” brought together diplomats, policymakers and strategic analysts to examine how the relationship is evolving amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Speakers emphasised that India–Africa ties are moving beyond historical solidarity toward a forward-looking partnership focused on economic cooperation, technology exchange and global governance reform.
Delivering the keynote address, Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, stressed the need for South–South cooperation in areas such as energy transition and climate action. He noted that disruptions to global supply chains have increased the importance of collaboration between developing regions.
Dalela also pointed to India’s expanding diplomatic presence across Africa and framed the partnership within the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” emphasising shared development goals and collective progress.
Panel discussions highlighted emerging sectors for cooperation including digitisation, critical minerals, infrastructure and climate resilience, alongside traditional pillars such as trade, people-to-people ties and security collaboration.
Welcoming participants, CRF President Shishir Priyadarshi and USANAS Foundation Founder and CEO Abhinav Pandya underscored the need to deepen trade engagement, warning that global fragmentation and trade unpredictability could affect growth prospects.
Diplomatic representatives stressed the scale of opportunity in strengthening economic ties. With bilateral trade crossing $100 billion in 2024–25 and a shared target of $200 billion by 2030, panellists called for more cohesive engagement strategies.
Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s High Commissioner to India and former G20 and BRICS Sherpa, highlighted cooperation in agriculture innovation, capacity building and skill development as key priorities for the next India–Africa Forum Summit. He also pointed to the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area, suggesting India develop a clearer engagement blueprint.
Former diplomat Anil Wadhawa noted that collaboration in ports, infrastructure and technology should focus not only on asset creation but on long-term development partnerships. He emphasised sharing India’s digital governance experience as a major opportunity.
Desire Boniface Some, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to India, linked the partnership to wider geopolitical shifts, arguing that evolving global power structures create space for mutually beneficial cooperation between India and African nations.
The conference reinforced the strategic dimension of India–Africa ties, particularly as both sides seek greater influence in global decision-making institutions. The inclusion of the African Union in the G20 was highlighted as a milestone demonstrating growing convergence.
Experts noted that India’s role in Africa’s industrialisation — through financing, technical expertise and skills development — positions the partnership as an alternative development model centred on capacity building rather than dependency.
Expanding collaboration in technology, connectivity and climate initiatives could also strengthen economic resilience and create new investment opportunities, especially in digital infrastructure and green energy.
As global alignments continue to shift, discussions at the conference suggested that India–Africa relations are entering a new phase focused on shared growth, strategic coordination and institutional reform. With trade targets rising and cooperation expanding into emerging sectors, the partnership is increasingly viewed as a key pillar of South–South engagement in a changing world order.
Our Final Thoughts
The evolving India–Africa partnership reflects a broader transformation in global diplomacy where developing economies are shaping agendas rather than merely responding to them. The emphasis on technology, climate cooperation and industrial development signals a shift toward long-term structural engagement. India’s experience in digital governance and capacity building aligns with Africa’s development priorities, creating scope for mutually beneficial collaboration. At the same time, rising trade ambitions highlight the need for institutional coordination and clearer implementation frameworks. The conference discussions suggest that geopolitical competition in Africa is intensifying, making strategic clarity essential for India’s engagement. If sustained through policy continuity and investment, the partnership could become a defining example of South–South cooperation in the emerging multipolar order.