India needs to ‘connect, build and revive’ with Africa, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India-Africa trade has surpassed $100 billion, with cumulative Indian investments in Africa reaching $75 billion.
• In April 2025, India and nine African navies participated in the first Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME).
• IIT Madras is establishing a new campus in Zanzibar, highlighting educational partnerships.
• The India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) has not convened since 2015, signaling a need for revival.

Detailed Insights:

• India's engagement with Africa has evolved to focus on co-investing in sectors like green hydrogen, electric mobility, and digital infrastructure.
• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents an opportunity for India to integrate its UPI and digital stack to facilitate a single continental market.
• Nearly 40,000 Africans have pursued studies in India in the last decade through initiatives like ITEC, ICCR, and the e-Network platforms.
• India's support was crucial in ensuring full membership for the African Union in the G-20, enhancing Africa's global voice.
• India's Exim Bank extended a $40 million credit line to the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), indicating interest in African-led development.

Key Concepts Involved:

• AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area): A trade agreement aimed at creating a single market for goods and services across Africa.
• UPI (Unified Payments Interface): An instant real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India.
• ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation): A programme for skill development and training, offered by the Indian government to individuals from developing countries.