India-Africa Forum Summit returns to New Delhi to advance strategic partnership

“New Delhi is set to host the 4th edition of the India-Africa Forum Summit from May 28 to 31, bringing together leaders and representatives from across the African continent in a renewed effort to strengthen one of the Global South’s most significant strategic partnerships. Held under the theme “IA SPIRIT: India-Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience, and Inclusive Transformation,” the summit is expected to mark a new phase in India–Africa cooperation, with discussions centred on trade, investment, digital transformation, sustainability, and inclusive economic development. The summit programme will begin with a Senior Officials Meeting on May 28, followed by the India–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 29. Several parallel events are also scheduled, including the India–Africa Business Dialogue and Exhibition, a Track 2 Dialogue bringing together think tanks and policy experts, and the India-Africa Music and Dance Festival. The upcoming gathering comes more than a decade after the previous summit held in 2015 and reflects the rapid expansion of India-Africa relations in recent years. Bilateral trade between India and African countries reached approximately $82bn in 2024-25, recording annual growth of 17%, driven by strong demand for petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, chemicals, and fertilisers. India has also emerged as one of Africa’s largest investors, with cumulative investments exceeding $80bn across sectors including renewable energy, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and oil and gas. As part of its broader diplomatic outreach, India has significantly expanded its diplomatic footprint across the continent, increasing the number of resident missions in Africa from 29 to 46 through the establishment of 17 new embassies and diplomatic missions in recent years. Indian officials describe the partnership as one built on equality, mutual respect, and development cooperation, with growing emphasis on technology-driven solutions and capacity building in sectors such as healthcare, education, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and skills development. India has extended more than $10bn in Lines of Credit to over 40 African countries and provided nearly $700m in grant assistance. Thousands of African students and professionals have also benefited from scholarships and technical training programmes through initiatives including the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) and the India-Africa Maitri Scheme. Technology and digital transformation are expected to feature prominently during the summit, as India seeks to position itself as a development partner capable of delivering scalable and affordable digital solutions. Officials point to India’s experience in digital public infrastructure, fintech, artificial intelligence, and innovation as areas with strong potential for collaboration across African markets. Healthcare cooperation has also become a major pillar of the relationship. India currently supplies a substantial share of generic medicines and antiretroviral drugs used across Africa and has partnered with several African countries to establish hospitals, diagnostic centres, and vaccine manufacturing facilities. Egypt is expected to play a prominent role in discussions on future India-Africa cooperation. Indian officials have described Egypt as a key strategic partner and a gateway to Africa, citing expanding collaboration in trade, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and industrial development. The summit is also expected to strengthen coordination between India and African nations on issues including global governance reform, climate justice, and advancing the interests of the Global South within international institutions. The post India-Africa Forum Summit returns to New Delhi to advance strategic partnership first appeared on Dailynewsegypt .

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