India hopes to intensify its trade and investment ties with Africa and focus on cooperation across sectors including agriculture, defence, education, green energy, health and digital partnership at the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi this month-end.
“India has been consistently among Africa’s top five trade and investment partners. The thrust of the summit will be on how to strengthen trade and investment ties further,” an official tracking the matter said.
While it is not possible to have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the African Union at large because it is not a customs union, India could look at arrangements with small groups of African countries, the official added.
In FY 2024-25, trade between India and Africa was at $81.99 billion, with India’s exports at $42.6 billion.
Cumulative investment
India’s cumulative investment in Africa has reached approximately $80 billion between 1996 and 2025. Indian investments are across sectors such as energy, mining, telecommunications, manufacturing, agriculture, and services.
Indian Commerce Secretary recently visited Tanzania and Kenya to discuss ways to increase bilateral trade, including exploring individual free trade agreements, another official said.
While the main summit meeting, to be attended by leaders from several African countries, is on May 31, there would be a number of meetings before and after. Senior officials will meet on May 28, followed by a Foreign Ministers meeting on May 29. A day after the summit, a high-profile Big Cat Alliance meeting is scheduled on June 1 of prominent African partners.
Published on May 9, 2026