India is steadily building a commercially grounded relationship with Africa that is large enough to matter while respecting the sovereignty and agency of African nations, according to a recent report.
India–Africa trade currently ranges between $80 billion and $100 billion annually, with cumulative Indian investments approaching $75 billion, placing Africa among India’s most important economic partners. Rather than pursuing influence through scale or coercion, India’s engagement focuses on capacity-building and mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
A key pillar of this partnership is development finance. India has extended nearly 200 concessional lines of credit across more than 40 African countries, supporting projects in railways, power transmission, agriculture, industrial capacity, and transport. These initiatives link African development needs with Indian execution capabilities without creating single-vendor dependency.
Digital infrastructure is another growing area of cooperation. India has introduced UPI and RuPay systems in Mauritius and signed digital payment agreements with countries such as Namibia and Togo, embedding India’s presence in everyday economic systems that support long-term financial inclusion and sovereignty.
Healthcare cooperation remains central to India–Africa relations. India supplies over half of Africa’s generic medicines, ensuring affordable access to essential drugs and strengthening public health systems across the continent.
On the security front, India continues to contribute significantly to United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa and has expanded its maritime role through anti-piracy operations, coastal radar cooperation, and joint naval exercises. Notably, India maintains no permanent military bases in Africa, reinforcing local capacity rather than substituting national sovereignty.
Overall, the India–Africa partnership prioritises capacity over dependency, allowing African nations to retain strategic autonomy while strengthening their role in global governance.
