India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, highlighted that India’s engagement with Africa centers on building long-term, sustainable partnerships rather than extractive practices, as he addressed the Japan-India-Africa Business Forum virtually on Wednesday. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of capacity-building, skill development, and technology transfer as key elements of India’s approach, which contrasts with exploitative models.
Jaishankar noted the significant economic ties between India and Africa, revealing that bilateral trade has surged to nearly USD 100 billion. He also mentioned India’s commitment to infrastructure and connectivity projects, with investments exceeding USD 12 billion. These projects have helped improve sectors such as railways, power generation, agriculture, and water supply, benefiting local communities and fostering self-sustaining growth ecosystems in Africa.
He praised the shared vision of India and Japan in strengthening their engagement with Africa, emphasizing democratic values, freedom, and the rule of law as the foundation of their collaboration. He also highlighted the importance of representing the interests of emerging economies, particularly in the Global South, in global decision-making forums. Jaishankar cited India’s efforts through initiatives like the Voice of the Global South Summits and its G20 presidency, which helped secure the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20.
Jaishankar also pointed to various India-Africa cooperation platforms such as the India-Africa Forum Summit and the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), which further enhance the relationship between India and Africa. He underscored India’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable growth in Africa, including through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), the Pan-African e-Network project, and community development initiatives focused on healthcare, education, and digital infrastructure.
Additionally, Jaishankar shared details about India’s telemedicine and e-learning projects in Africa, such as the e-VidyaBharti and e-ArogyaBharti networks, which have enabled thousands of African youth to access education and medical resources remotely.
In his concluding remarks, Jaishankar expressed confidence that the partnership between India, Japan, and Africa will continue to grow, creating beneficial outcomes for all involved. He emphasized that the development of Africa would not only benefit the continent but also contribute to global stability and economic progress, with India and Japan working together to support Africa’s inclusive and sustainable growth.
