India-Africa Relations Explained: Why the Global South Is Becoming More Powerful

Both India and African nations frequently cooperate on issues such as:

• Reform of global institutions like the United Nations Security Council

• Climate justice and equitable climate finance

• South-South cooperation

• Food and energy security

• Digital public infrastructure

• Inclusive and sustainable development

This partnership has become particularly important because developing nations increasingly seek greater representation in international decision-making. India’s leadership in platforms such as the G20 has also amplified the concerns and priorities of the Global South.

Expanding Economic Partnership

Economic cooperation has become one of the strongest pillars of India-Africa relations.

Major Highlights of Economic Ties

• Bilateral trade between India and Africa currently stands at nearly 85 billion US dollars.

• Africa contributes around 10 percent of India’s energy imports.

• India has extended over 190 Lines of Credit worth more than 10 billion dollars to 41 African countries.

• More than 220 development projects valued at approximately 4.5 billion dollars have already been completed.

• India is among Africa’s top five investors and also its fourth-largest trading partner.

Indian companies are active across sectors such as:

• Pharmaceuticals

• Information technology

• Telecommunications

• Agriculture

• Energy

• Infrastructure

In recent years, digital cooperation has also emerged as a major area of collaboration. India has signed digital partnership agreements with several African countries to support e-governance, digital identity systems, financial inclusion, and technology transfer.

India’s experience with affordable digital public infrastructure is increasingly being seen as a successful development model for many African nations.

India’s Security Role in Africa

India’s engagement with Africa is not limited to economics alone. Security cooperation has expanded significantly over the years.

India currently contributes nearly 5,000 peacekeepers to various United Nations missions in African countries, making it one of the major contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.

Cooperation has also increased in areas such as:

• Maritime security in the Indian Ocean

• Anti-piracy operations

• Defense training programs