During his state visit to India, Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco expressed admiration for India and called for a renewed, forward-looking partnership between the two nations. Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Lourenco said, “I have come to India to convey a message of admiration and friendship… and to showcase a new vision for relations between our countries.”
The Angolan leader emphasized the potential for expanded economic cooperation, stating, “Both our nations combined can help establish a significantly expanded foundation for business opportunities.”
Prime Minister Modi welcomed President Lourenco at Hyderabad House, reaffirming India’s strong commitment to Africa and recognizing Angola’s leadership in the African Union as critical to shaping the future of the Global South.
PM Modi highlighted India’s growing engagement with African nations, noting that trade has surged to nearly USD 100 billion, and India has extended USD 12 billion in credit lines, alongside USD 700 million in grants. India has also opened 17 new embassies across Africa in the past decade and helped set up vocational training centres in eight countries, as well as digital public infrastructure in five.
“India and the African Union are partners in progress and pillars of the Global South,” Modi said, also citing recent milestones such as the first India-Africa naval maritime exercise, and deepening cooperation in defence and maritime security.
The bilateral meeting, attended by EAM S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, is seen as a key step in shaping a more dynamic and diversified India-Angola relationship, grounded in mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared global priorities.
