Intro  Evolution of relations 

 Tony Blair - Africa is a scar on the conscience of humanity   Had extensive relations during the 1950s
 Africa - Dark Continent however today as a continent of hope. over non-violence & Anti-imperialism. 
 India-Africa relations are based on century old ties of culture,  But later during the cold war, the
kinship and commerce  relations became tepid with an inward
 Both share the Spirit of cosmopolitanism with the ideologies of  looking and protectionist India focussed
o Vasudhiva Kutumbakam  on its immediate neighbourhood 
o Ubuntu   1990s saw Re-engagement by private
 Warmth and depth b/w Indian and African countries have been sector 
the pillar of Indian foreign policy what PM Modi has called o NEP - investment and trade 
‘strong emotional link’. o China had already made inroads 
 Hamid Ansari- 4 imperatives for cooperation  Recent
o Common historical experiences and cultural links o Since 2008 India Africa Forum
o Complementarities in strengths and capabilities. summit- 3rd summit in 2015
o Common approach in meeting developmental challenges (“Reinvigorating Partnerships-
o Convergence of views of global matters. Shared Vision”)- all 54 countries
participated - relations have been
Importance of Africa  on the upswing 
o Narrative changed from ‘what
 Geopolitical  India can do for Africa’ to ‘what
o South-South, UNSC, Countering China, Indo-Pacific can India and Africa do together’
 Geo-strategic  o ITEC- $7.5 billion
o Security of sea lanes communication  o Team 9 - 8 countries for their
o China’s string of pearls  development
o Islamic Fundamentalism  o Pan Africa E-network
 Geo-economic  - telemedicine and Tele-
o Energy security- Nigeria oil education 
o Scholarships for students
o Food security- Mozambique pulses
o India - 150 lines of credit 
o Source : Raw materials / Natural resources/Vast arable
 Not linked
lands where many Indians are undertaking farming.
with conditionality
o Market - high per capita income - automobile sector -
 No intrusive agenda 
huge potential  o UNPK missions in Africa 
o Blue economy
o Solar Mamas & ISA
o Complementarity: India needs exports and Africa has
o Pharmaceuticals from India
rising purchasing power.
o Modi visited 4 countries -
o 6 African countries are among fastest growing economy
strategically important - IOR
o Trade has seen 21% rise
o IOR policy - Maritime Security
 Improving situations Doctrine
o Improving political governance o African Development Bank
o Rapidly growing population meeting in India  
o Urbanization o Africa-Asia Growth Corridor 
o Better education and skill
o Young demography
Challenges 
IOR importance 
 India does not have an Africa Policy
o Like - Look West, Act East, CCAP   India’s Maritime Doctrine :
 China - the Chinese presence in the region with 8 times Ensuring Safe seas 
India’s investment remains a matter of concern   Emphasis on defence diplomacy
o China-Africa Defence and Security Forum vs. India’s presence to regain India’s space as net
limited to anti-piracy operations. security provider.
o C. Rajamohan: The difference between India’s promises and  India’s maritime policies
delivery in defence diplomacy continues to grow. China has used o SAGAR (Security and
peacekeeping to increase its military profile in the region. Growth for all)
o Chinese presence good for India  o Project MAUSAM to
o Provides momentum to work  revive lost cultural
o Harsh V. Pant: No point in competing with china - Work on our linkages with Indian
strengths  ocean world
1. IT o Sagarmala initiative.
2. Pharma  Important of Africa for India in
3. Capacity Building & tech transfers IOR
o Resentment against China’s extractive state-driven policies  o Piracy 
 According to the “World Investment Report for 2018”, issued by the o Choke points – Bab- al
UNCTAD, Indian FDI in Africa in 2016-17 at $14 billion was lower than it Mandab, Hormuz
was in 2011-12 at $16 billion. o Drug Trafficking,
o China’s investment has risen from $16 to $40. Organised crime 
o According to Harsh V. Pant, India is finding it difficult to bring o China’s String of Pearls
private sector along. o Chinese naval base in
 Multilateral treaties like RCEP are also eating into India-Africa trade Djibouti
 Political instability and failed states o Modi visited 4 countries
 Radicalism, Terrorism and piracy - strategically important
 Bilateral Trade = $72 bn (below potential) vs. China’s $200 billion – IOR
 Recent attacks on African nationals: perception of India being a far off o President visited ‘Horn
land for ordinary citizens. of Africa’ countries.
 Scams like that of Gupta brothers

https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-south-africa-relations-a-perennial-bond-47557/

Way Forward 
Siddhart VaradRajan (Social const) Mahesh Sachdev (Frm Amb) Harsh V. Pant:

 Engagement with Diaspora  India needs to   No point in competing with china - Work
o at all levels; not just  Walk the talk on our strengths-> IT; Pharma; Capacity
elites  address the delivery Building & tech transfers
 Strengthen diplomatic presence  deficit  
 Leverage geographical proximity and
 Red lines for Pvt sector  and the perception that
o Land grabbing incidents  India promises and china ensure age-old ties get a modern
delivers 
 CSR in Africa for Indian
companies in Africa imprimatur.
 Sreeram Chaulia: We also need
Rajiv Bhatia: Action plan for Amb. Shiv Shankar Mukherjee: Every African
a dedicated Indian cadre for
$100 billion trade and $75
capacity building in Africa at country has unique requirements and we should not
billion investment by 2022.
grass root. adopt one-size-fit-all policy for Africa.

Sanjay Baru:
 We cannot remain imprisoned in dark-
continent stereotype.
 Greater people-to-people contact.
 India’s sub-continental drift needs to be
reversed.

Africa’s Agenda 2063: Adopted in 2015 with an aim of having strong, peaceful, integrated and
prosperous Africa by 2063; 100 years of African Union.
Amb. Rajiv Bhatia: India’s Africa policy is in line with Agenda 2063
With role of WTO declining, India needs to utilize opportunities like African Continental Free
Trade Area which will include all African nations to boost economic partnership.

Conclusion
 According to Suhasini Haider, it is the common problems that bring the two regions
together; described once by Nelson Mandela as “the golden thread woven in common
struggles against injustice and oppression”.
 Shyam Saran: Here it is important that India does not play a game of catch-up with
China. Rather it is more important to leverage India’s own unique strengths, such as its
contribution to capacity building, promotion of entrepreneurship, small and medium scale
industry and digital connectivity.