INDIA AFRICA TRADE COUNCIL

The inauguration of the India Africa Trade Council took place at Hotel Crowne Plaza in Chennai, marking a significant step toward fostering business relations between India and African nations. Ms. Nagma Mallick (IFS), the then Additional Secretary (Africa) at the Ministry of External Aff airs, Government of India, and Her Excellency Dr. Tizita Mulugeta Yimam, the former Ambassador of Ethiopia in India, jointly inaugurated the council.

During the inauguration, Ms. Nagma Mallick emphasised the potential of India’s Vaccine Diplomacy, envisioning a leading role in reaching out to African countries. She highlighted India’s efforts to leverage its technical advantage in large-scale vaccine production for diplomatic influence, expressing eagerness to further develop this dynamic aspect of the relationship.

With Africa emerging as a region with substantial multilateral business opportunities, there is a significant interest in India. The India Africa Trade Council plans to establish 13 trade offices in major metro cities across India, facilitating Indian businessmen interested in trading with African countries. These offices will collaborate directly with embassies in Delhi, extending opportunities to cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore.

Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO), emphasised Africa’s priority in alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision. He outlined the council’s commitment to intensifying and deepening engagement with Africa, focusing on development partnerships guided by Africa’s priorities. The goal is to enhance local capacity, create opportunities, and facilitate collaboration between Indian and African industries. Dr. Asif Iqbal shared these insights during the inauguration ceremony.

The council also organised a roundtable meeting in Chennai, bringing together Indian companies keen on doing business in Africa to explore potential collaborations and opportunities.

The council associates and empowers  the countries like, Botswana,Chad,Djibouti,,Eswatini,Ethiopia,
Ghana,Lesoth,Nigeria,Rwanda,Tanzania,Tunisia,Zimbabwe, which helps to amalgamate the International Developments of the countries.