**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry held a curtain raiser on May 13, 2026, for the upcoming India-Africa Business Dialogue (IABD) & Exhibition, to be held alongside the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit. The event aims to double bilateral trade by 2030 and shift the economic partnership from raw material trade toward high-value manufacturing and technology-driven collaboration. Key stakeholders are called to participate in this platform to align trade standards and foster youth-driven innovation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Economic Momentum and Trade Targets**
* Bilateral trade reached USD 93.69 billion in 2025–26, marking a 14.39% growth over the previous year.
* A strategic goal has been set to double India-Africa bilateral trade by 2030 through improved logistics and diversified supply chains.
* The partnership aims to move beyond traditional raw material trade toward higher-value products and integrated value chains.
* **Strategic Frameworks and Collaboration**
* The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), valued at USD 3.4 trillion, is identified as a critical opportunity for Indian partnerships.
* There is a highlighted need to align standards, customs procedures, and business practices to facilitate faster trade growth.
* The Government of India reaffirmed its commitment to the Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme for Least Developed Countries.
* **Priority Sectors for Future Growth**
* Key sectors for collaboration include renewable energy, green hydrogen, digitalization, telecommunications, and critical minerals.
* Other identified areas include agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, electric mobility, and defense production.
* **Youth and Innovation Ecosystems**
* With two-thirds of both populations under age 35, there is a prioritized focus on skilling, talent development, and startups.
* Collaborative efforts will focus on Preparing the workforce for "industries of the future" through technology transfer and innovation ecosystems.
* **Event Features of IABD & Exhibition**
* The upcoming event will feature plenary sessions, policy dialogues, sectoral roundtables, and B2B/B2G meetings.
* A thematic exhibition will showcase technologies, innovations, and collaborative success stories from both regions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian and African Businesses**
* **Impact:** Enterprises gain access to expanded markets through the AfCFTA and India’s USD 4 trillion economy, with opportunities for high-value manufacturing and technology partnerships.
* **Action Required:** Participate in B2B/B2G networking engagements and utilize the IABD platform to showcase innovations and sectoral best practices.
**Government Policymakers and Officials**
* **Impact:** Officials are tasked with strengthening South-South trade corridors and institutional frameworks to facilitate smoother investment.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate through Joint Trade Committees (JTCs) and work toward aligning customs procedures and trade standards.
**Youth and Entrepreneurs**
* **Impact:** Increased focus on the startup ecosystem and digitalization provides a platform for youth-driven economic growth and technical training.
* **Action Required:** Engage with innovation ecosystems and skilling programs designed to meet the demands of emerging technology sectors.
Key Entities Referenced
4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV): A major diplomatic and strategic summit serving as the primary context for strengthening economic ties and multi-dimensional partnerships between India and African nations.
India-Africa Business Dialogue (IABD) & Exhibition: A premier platform envisioned to deepen trade, investment, and technology partnerships through business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) engagements.
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): A significant trade framework valued at USD 3.4 trillion, identified as a key driver for creating resilient partnerships and integrated value chains between India and Africa.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The primary Indian government ministry responsible for chairing the dialogue and overseeing the strategic growth of bilateral trade relations with Africa.
Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme: A specific Indian government initiative implemented to facilitate trade and investment by providing preferential market access to Least Developed Countries.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Curtain Raiser Held for India-Africa Business
Dialogue & Exhibition to be held on sidelines of
4th India-Africa Forum Summit
Posted On: 14 MAY 2026 8:26PM by PIB Delhi
A Curtain Raiser Event for the forthcoming India-Africa Business Dialogue (IABD) & Exhibition to be
held on the sidelines of the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) was held on 13th May, 2026 at
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry
Shri Piyush Goyal. The event brought together Resident Ambassadors and High Commissioners from
African countries, senior officials from the Government of India, representatives of Chambers of industry,
Associations, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), businesses, and other distinguished stakeholders from
India and Africa.
The IABD and Exhibition is envisioned as a premier platform to deepen economic and strategic
engagement between India and African nations through enhanced trade, investment, technology
partnerships, and people-to-people collaboration.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry highlighted the unique historical
and civilizational ties shared between India and Africa, underpinned by centuries of maritime connectivity,
solidarity in anti-colonial struggles, and strong socio-cultural bonds. He noted that India and Africa
together can shape a more inclusive, resilient, and innovation-driven future for the Global South.
The Union Minister emphasized that India-Africa economic relations have witnessed strong momentum in
recent years. Bilateral trade between India and Africa reached USD 93.69 billion in 2025–26, registering a
growth of 14.39% over the previous year. India’s exports to Africa stood at USD 45.42 billion, while
imports reached USD 48.27 billion during the same period.
The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry emphasized the need to build upon existing trade ties and
preferential trade frameworks by aligning standards, customs procedures and business practices to
facilitate faster and smarter growth for businesses on both sides. Highlighting the immense economic
potential of collaboration between India and Africa, he noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA), valued at nearly USD 3.4 trillion, together with India’s rapidly expanding USD 4 trillion
economy, presents immense opportunities to create resilient partnerships, diversify supply chains, and
move beyond raw material trade towards higher-value manufacturing and integrated value chains.
The Minister further underlined the importance of technology transfer and youth-driven growth in shaping
the future of India-Africa cooperation. He identified renewable energy, green hydrogen, green ammonia,
electric mobility, digitalization, and telecommunications as key sectors for collaboration. Stressing that
nearly two-thirds of the population of India and Africa was below the age of 35, he called for greater focus
on skilling, startups, innovation ecosystems, and talent development to prepare the workforce for
industries of the future. Recalling an African proverb heard during the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference
in Cameroon recently “One hand cannot tie a bundle”, the Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to
forging strong and enduring partnerships with African nations for shared prosperity and inclusive growth.The Minister underlined that the next phase of India-Africa partnership must move beyond traditional raw
material trade towards higher-value products, integrated supply chains, local manufacturing and
technology-driven cooperation. He identified agriculture and food processing, digital public infrastructure,
healthcare and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, critical minerals, electric mobility, manufacturing,
defence production, and emerging technologies as key sectors for future collaboration.
He further highlighted the transformational potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) and reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening engagement with African regional
economic groupings. The Hon’ble Minister also emphasized the need to build stronger South-South trade
corridors and articulated the shared ambition of doubling India-Africa bilateral trade by 2030 through
diversified supply chains, improved logistics, and climate-smart partnerships.
Speaking on the occasion, the Commerce Secretary, Shri Rajesh Agrawal stated that India and Africa share
a long-standing multidimensional partnership driven by common history, trade, people-to-people ties and
developmental aspirations. He highlighted that the upcoming India-Africa Business Dialogue &
Exhibition will serve as an important platform to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, investors,
innovators, development institutions, and entrepreneurs from both sides.
The Commerce Secretary shared that the event will focus on thematic areas including climate action and
sustainability, infrastructure and connectivity, digital innovation and AI, manufacturing and MSME
partnerships, healthcare and human capital development, financial services, logistics, strategic
cooperation, and critical minerals. The event will feature plenary sessions, policy dialogues, sectoral
roundtables, B2B and B2G meetings, networking engagements, and a thematic exhibition showcasing
technologies, innovations, sectoral best practices, and collaborative success stories from India and Africa.
The Commerce Secretary also highlighted the recent 10th India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee (JTC) and
5th India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meetings, where discussions focused on reviewing
bilateral trade relations, strengthening investment cooperation, and identifying new areas of partnership.
He noted that these engagements reflect the growing momentum in India’s economic ties with African
countries and the shared commitment to expanding cooperation across key sectors.
The Curtain Raiser also underscored the Government of India’s continued commitment towards
strengthening institutional and policy frameworks to facilitate trade and investment with African partners,
including through initiatives such as the Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme for Least Developed
Countries and ongoing bilateral Joint Trade Committee mechanisms with several African countries.
The participants expressed strong support for the upcoming India-Africa Business Dialogue & Exhibition
and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening India-Africa economic cooperation and strategic
partnership in line with the shared visions of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Africa Agenda 2063.
The Government of India looks forward to the active and wider participation of governments, businesses,
industry associations, financial institutions, and development partners from across Africa and India in
making the India-Africa Business Dialogue & Exhibition and the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit a
success.
***
Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan
(Release ID: 2261202) Visitor Counter : 210
Read this release in: ही , Gujarati