Angolan President João Lourenço’s landmark four-day state visit to India, aims to boost ties in energy, trade, infrastructure, and strategic cooperation.
Angola’s President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is set to begin a four-day state visit to India today, in a historic diplomatic milestone aimed at strengthening the ties between the two nations. This marks the first official visit by an Angolan Head of State to India in 38 years and comes as both countries celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations in 2025.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), President Lourenço’s visit underlines the growing warmth and importance of the India-Angola relationship, particularly in the context of South-South cooperation and shared economic aspirations. The President is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising key ministers, senior government officials, and a large business contingent.
During his stay, President Lourenço will receive a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 3, following which he will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold bilateral discussions. He is also scheduled to engage in delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will host a luncheon in his honour.
The MEA said in a statement, “A number of MoUs and agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, which will give a boost to bilateral relations.” While specific agreements have not yet been disclosed, they are expected to cover sectors including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and defence cooperation.
On May 4, President Lourenço will attend a key India-Angola Business Forum in New Delhi, designed to promote trade and investment between the two countries. Business leaders from both sides are expected to explore commercial partnerships, especially in the oil and gas, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
Strategic Partnership in Energy and Trade
India and Angola have maintained a friendly and steadily expanding relationship, with energy cooperation at its core. Angola is one of India’s largest oil suppliers in Africa and a long-standing strategic partner in the hydrocarbon sector. In FY 2023–24, bilateral trade reached $4.192 billion, driven primarily by Indian imports of Angolan crude oil.
India, in turn, exports pharmaceuticals, rice, engineering goods, and machinery to Angola. New Delhi has also extended concessional lines of credit to support Angola’s infrastructure and development needs, particularly in agriculture and power distribution.
The visit comes at a time when Angola is seeking to diversify its economy beyond oil and deepen ties with key global partners. President Lourenço has pushed a reform agenda at home, including economic liberalisation, anti-corruption efforts, and improved ease of doing business—initiatives that align well with India’s investment interests in the African continent.
Collaboration on Global Platforms
India and Angola also share common positions on several global issues and collaborate closely at international forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Group of 77. Both countries advocate for multipolarity, greater South-South cooperation, and reforms in global governance institutions, including the UN Security Council.
President Lourenço’s visit is expected to reinforce this diplomatic alignment and may see both sides renew their commitment to working together on multilateral platforms, particularly on climate change, sustainable development, and equitable access to technology and finance.
A Growing African Engagement
The visit is part of India’s broader outreach to Africa, which has seen increased momentum in recent years through the India-Africa Forum Summits and enhanced developmental partnerships. Angola, as a key member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), holds strategic importance for India’s Africa policy.
In line with its Vision 2047 goals, India is expanding its engagement across the African continent with a focus on energy security, capacity building, digital infrastructure, and connectivity. Angola’s interest in attracting Indian investment dovetails with New Delhi’s ambitions to become a key economic and development partner for Africa.
President Lourenço’s visit is therefore being seen not only as a diplomatic landmark but also as an opportunity to chart a more ambitious and multi-dimensional partnership.
As the visit unfolds, all eyes will be on the nature of agreements signed and the tone of the bilateral conversations, which are expected to set the trajectory for a more robust India-Angola relationship in the coming decades.
