India-Africa Partnership: Key Areas

India’s President Draupadi Murmu’s visit to Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi from 13 -19 October 2024, has put the spotlight on India’s partnership with Africa. This visit comes in the backdrop of significant steps taken by India to showcase its special relationship with Africa. First, in 2018 during a visit to Uganda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated 10 principles of India-Africa engagement. The initial two principles reiterate that Africa is a ‘top priority’ and that India’s development partnership with African countries is guided by ‘African priorities.’ With this spirit, India has completed over 206 projects in 43 African countries through concessional loans of over US $ 12.37 billion. ^[1] Second, during its G20 presidency last year, India welcomed African Union as a permanent member of the group. This move reflects India’s drive to ensure a greater voice of African countries in the multilateral forum. Third, at the recent 19th India- Africa Business Conclave organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) recognising the immense potential for collaboration, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, called for doubling the bilateral trade to US $200 billion in the next seven years. ^[2] At present, India is the fourth largest trading partner of Africa with bilateral trade of around US $ 100 billion and cumulative investments of US$75 billion. ^[3] President Murmu’s visit will certainly give a boost to India’s partnership with African countries particularly in the sphere of higher education, digital infrastructure, food security and critical minerals.

Higher Education

Traditionally, cooperation in education has been an important part of India’s partnership with African countries. This is evident in the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme launched by India in 1964. The programme has helped in training thousands of Africans in India. Moreover, over the years, India has offered scholarships to several African students to study in Indian universities. During the third India Africa Forum Summit India offered scholarships for 50,000 African students. India recognizes the priority given to enhance capacities in higher education in African countries. ^[4] The African Union’s theme of the year 2024, “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa,” reflects this focus within the region. In the last one year, India has made the stellar move to facilitate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) within Africa. In April 2023, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar inaugurated the first offshore campus of India’s National Forensic Science University in Jinja, Uganda. ^[5] Similarly in November 2023, the first international campus of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), was opened by the IIT (Madras) in Zanzibar, Tanzania. ^[6] The inauguration of these two campuses reflects India’s commitment towards sharing India’s expertise in higher education particularly in the sphere of science and technology with the African countries. There is large scope of taking this partnership in higher education to other parts of the continent.

Digital Infrastructure

Another important area of cooperation is in the digital sphere. The African countries have recognized the need for digitalisation and endeavoured to enhance connectivity and access. Despite these efforts, in 2022, only 36 percent of Africa’s population had broadband internet access. ^[7] Both India and African countries share similar challenges for digital transformation-low internet connectivity and the digital divide. In recent years, India has launched unique initiatives, such as, the “Digital India” programme to enhance digital infrastructure and ‘Aadhar’, one of the world’s largest national digital identification programme. There are others like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Winning over COVID (CoWIN) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) that may be replicated to benefit African countries. India has offered UPI to several countries globally and to Namibia and Mauritius in Africa. ^[8] There exists an enormous potential of cooperation between India and Africa in the digital sphere. African countries can benefit from India’s digital revolution within the framework of South- South cooperation.

Food Security

Food security is an additional area where India and African countries can partner. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, Russia- Ukraine conflict, climate emergencies and extreme weather events, ensuring food security has become a challenge for a large number of African countries. Here, India’s experience in attaining food security through the green and white (milk) revolution can serve as an example. ^[9] The global supply chain disruptions due to the Ukraine conflict had a deep impact on African countries. India has continued to support to African countries in this crucial period. Despite a ban on export of non-basmati white rice due to domestic issues, India has allowed export of this rice to its African partners like Malawi, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Seychelles. ^[10] The recent decision by India to lift these restrictions will enhance cooperation between India and Africa. ^[11] On the other hand, while India may be relatively food secure, nutritional security continues to be a challenge. In India, a large portion of the population is dependent on protein-rich pulses, a staple food, to meet the nutritional requirements. Of late, India has imported pulses from African countries to meet the domestic demand. Further cooperation towards sustainable agricultural production, innovation, research and development will help both India and Africa.

Critical Minerals

Development and supply of critical minerals and related infrastructure is a crucial area of cooperation. Critical minerals like lithium and cobalt are essential for global green transition and a low carbon future. These rare minerals are vital for development of India’s electric vehicles, and solar energy projects. During the 2024-25 budget speech, India’s Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, unveiled the country’s ‘Critical Mineral Mission’. ^[12] Partnership with Africa countries will be imperative for the success of this mission. ^[13] Africa accounts 30 percent of global critical mineral reserves. ^[14] Several countries within the region have large deposits of these minerals. For example, Democratic Republic of Congo accounts for over 70 percent of the world’s cobalt production, Guinea has world’s largest bauxite reserves, Gabon world’s largest producer of manganese, South Africa has 90 percent of global platinum reserves, Zambia is the world’s largest exporter of unrefined copper and Zimbabwe is the world’s third largest exporter of chromium ore. ^[15] India’s Kanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) is in conversation with some African countries. However, India will have to scale up its dialogue with African countries for access to these minerals. It will also have to factor in the recent ‘African Green Mineral Development Strategy’ developed by the African Development Bank to harness the region’s green mineral resources for industrialization. ^[16] So joint development of these resources and strengthening Africa’s indigenous industries may also be explored by India and African countries.

As President Draupadi Murmu begins her visit to Africa, cooperation in key areas of higher education, digital infrastructure, food security and critical minerals may be considered. The visit by President Murmu is a timely initiative to refresh India’s engagement with Africa. This visit comes after the year of African Union’s entry in the G20 as a regular member with India’s support. It is also important that President Murmu discusses the possibility of hosting the next India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) in her conversation with President Mohamed Ould Cheikh AI- Ghazouani of Mauritania, the current chairperson of African Union. It is nine years since the last IAFS was held in New Delhi in partnership with the African Union. Meanwhile, several countries have engaged African Union at summit level. China held the Forum for China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in September 2024. United States, Türkiye, Russia, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia have also organised a summit with Africa in the last few years. In order to retain its goodwill within Africa, it is imperative that India organises the next India Africa Forum Summit at an early date.

India-Africa, Higher Education, Digital Infrastructure, Food Security, Critical Minerals, IAFS, Draupadi Murmu

End Notes

^[1] Remarks by EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar on the occasion of Africa Day Celebrations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 25 June 2024 at https://www.mea.gov.in/Speechesstatements.htm?dtl/37907/Remarks_by_EAM_Dr_S_Jaishankar_on_the_occasion_of_Africa_Day_Celebrations [3]
^[2] ‘India, Africa should target $200 bn trade in next 7 years: Piyush Goyal’ Business Standard 22 August 2024 at https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/india-africa-should-target-200-bn-trade-in-next-7-years-piyush-goyal-124082100847_1.html [4]
^[3] Remarks by EAM, n.1
^[4] Ruchita Beri, “Third India Africa Forum Summit: Key Outcomes” Africa Trends October- December 2015 at https://idsa.in/africatrends/third-india-africa-forum-summit_rberi_1215 [5]
^[5] “National Forensic Sciences University campus in Uganda 'significant milestone' in bilateral ties: EAM Jaishankar” India News Network 13 April 2023 at https://www.indianewsnetwork.com/20230413/national-forensic-sciences-university-campus-in-uganda-significant-milestone-in-bilateral-ties-eam-jaishankar [6]
^[6] “IIT Madras Campus opens in Zanzibar with 45 students “Times of India 7 November 2023 at https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/iit-ms-campus-in-zanzibar-opens-with-45-students/articleshow/105025745.cms [7]
^[7] Cristina Duarte, “Transforming Africa with STI-driven solutions” 27 September 2024 at https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/september-2024/transforming-africa-sti-driven-solutions [8]
^[8] “India's UPI Expands Global Reach: Transforming Digital Payments Across Continents” India News Network 3 October 2024 at https://www.indianewsnetwork.com/en/20241003/india-s-upi-expands-global-reach-transforming-digital-payments-across-continents [9]
^[9] Ashok Gulati and Joachim von Braun, “International Conference of Agricultural Economists: A chance to cement India-Africa partnership in food security” Indian Express, 6 August 2024 at https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/international-conference-agricultural-economists-india-africa-partnership-food-security-9494053/ [10]
^[10] Press Trust of India,” Govt allows 2,000 tonnes non-basmati white rice exports to Malawi, Zimbabwe” Business Standard 20 June 2024 at https://www.business-standard.com/economy/news/govt-allows-2-000-tonnes-non-basmati-white-rice-exports-to-malawi-zimbabwe-124062000276_1.html [11]
^[11] “India lifts ban on non-basmati white rice exports amid surging inventories” Economic Times, 28 September 2024 at https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/govt-imposes-minimum-export-price-of-usd-490-per-tonne-on-non-basmati-white-rice/articleshow/113765815.cms?from=mdr [12]
^[12] Budget 2024-25: Speech of Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance. Government of India. 23 July, 2024 at https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/budget_speech.pdf [13]
^[13] Veda Vaidyanathan, “Africa can make India’s ‘critical mineral mission’ shine” The Hindu 6 September 2024 at https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/africa-can-make-indias-critical-mineral-mission-shine/article68610753.ece [14]
^[14] Jordon Mclean and Adrian Joseph, “The geopolitics of Energy Minerals: How Africa can lead the green energy transition,” 15 July 2024 at https://saiia.org.za/research/the-geopolitics-of-energy-minerals-how-africa-can-lead-the-green [15]
^[15] ‘Africa's critical minerals: Africa at the heart of a low-carbon future’ at https://mo.ibrahim.foundation/sites/default/files/2022-11/minerals-resource-governance.pdf [16]
^[16] Jordon Mclean and Adrian Joseph, n.11.

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