Report says upcoming forum could launch a stronger partnership focused on energy, trade and resilience…report Africa, India Newsdesks
The upcoming fourth India Africa Forum Summit is being seen as a potential turning point in ties between India and African nations, with experts describing it as an opportunity to build a stronger, more balanced and resilient partnership amid growing global uncertainty.
Writing for India Narrative, Nairobi based journalist Zuri Amondi said the summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on May 31, will bring together leaders from across Africa and India for the first India Africa Forum Summit in more than a decade.
She described the gathering as more than a routine diplomatic exercise, arguing that it could signal the start of a renewed partnership with long term strategic significance.
The summit will be held under the theme “IA SPIRIT — India Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience, and Inclusive Transformation”, reflecting the growing ambition on both sides to deepen cooperation across key sectors.
Amondi said recent global disruptions, particularly instability in the Persian Gulf region, have highlighted the urgent need for stronger collaboration between India and Africa.
She noted that the crisis in the Gulf has shaken global energy markets, creating serious economic pressures for many African economies that rely heavily on fuel imports. Rising energy costs, she said, have contributed to higher food and transport prices while placing additional strain on government finances.
For India, the tensions have also exposed vulnerabilities linked to its dependence on energy imports routed through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of its crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
According to Amondi, the changing global energy landscape presents new opportunities for cooperation. African oil and gas producers such as Nigeria, Angola and Algeria could benefit from long term agreements with India, which is seeking to diversify its energy sources.
She said such partnerships could provide African producers with more stable revenues while encouraging investment in infrastructure and production capacity.
Amondi also pointed out that African maritime routes, including routes around the Cape of Good Hope, could offer India alternative supply chains that are less exposed to geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.
Beyond the energy sector, she highlighted expanding cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Indian pharmaceutical companies have established manufacturing operations in several African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, helping improve access to affordable medicines across the continent.
Amondi noted that Indian pharmaceutical exports to Africa reached $3.8 billion in 2023 and said there remains significant scope for further expansion in affordable healthcare partnerships.
She described the relationship as mutually beneficial, with African countries gaining access to lower cost medicines while Indian firms secure growing markets and stronger manufacturing bases in Africa.
Highlighting broader economic ties, Amondi said bilateral trade between India and African nations has already crossed $100 billion and could eventually reach $200 billion.
She added that the partnership is increasingly moving beyond traditional trade towards cooperation in value addition, digital services and green growth initiatives.India Africa summit set to redefine strategic ties
