New Delhi: India’s engagement with African nations is centred on capacity-building, skill development and long-term partnerships rather than resource extraction, according to a new report, which says New Delhi’s approach offers a model of mutually beneficial cooperation.
The report by India Narrative states that India’s relationship with Africa focuses on strengthening local capabilities instead of creating dependency. It highlights initiatives ranging from food grain assistance to countries facing shortages and medical support for health emergencies to humanitarian efforts such as providing artificial limbs to victims of conflict.
According to the report, more than 80,000 Africans have benefited from Indian scholarship and training programmes over the past decade, enabling them to build careers as engineers, doctors, diplomats and technicians.
“As Africa recalibrates its place in a changing world order, India’s approach offers a useful, though imperfect, example of what a genuinely reciprocal partnership can look like,” the report said.
It also noted that India-Africa bilateral trade has grown to nearly $93 billion, making India one of the continent’s leading trading partners. Indian investments in Africa have crossed $80 billion, covering sectors such as telecommunications, energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and digital services—areas identified by African governments as critical for long-term economic transformation.
The report further highlighted that India has extended more than 190 lines of credit worth over $10 billion to finance infrastructure projects, including power plants and water supply systems across the continent.
It also cited educational initiatives such as the establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Zanzibar and a forensic sciences institute in Uganda, describing them as examples of India’s emphasis on developing human capital.
Contrasting India’s approach with traditional resource-focused engagement, the report said much of Africa’s historical interaction with external partners has revolved around the extraction of natural resources. In comparison, India’s cooperation through telecommunications, affordable medicines and digital technologies reflects a broader vision of sustainable development.
The report concluded that Africa’s growing population and India’s technological capabilities together have the potential to create one of the most significant economic partnerships of the 21st century.
With inputs from IANS