India eyes stronger Africa ties
Larona Makhaiza | Thursday May 21, 2026 09:10
Speaking during a press conference held at India House last week ahead of the upcoming Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV), the Indian High Commissioner to Botswana, Bharath Kumar Kuthati said the summit comes at a critical moment when developing countries are facing growing challenges caused by geopolitical tensions, climate change, inflation, food insecurity and disruptions in global trade and energy supply chains.
“The international system today is witnessing profound uncertainty and transition. It is in such times that trusted partnerships rooted in mutual respect, shared priorities, and genuine cooperation become increasingly important,” Commissioner said.
The summit, themed “India–Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience and Inclusive Transformation,” is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation between India and African countries in areas such as trade, healthcare, agriculture, technology, renewable energy, education and digital transformation.
The Commissioner also emphasised that the India-Africa relationship is not transactional, but rooted in historical solidarity and shared struggles against colonialism and apartheid.
“Our ties are not recent or transactional. They are rooted in centuries of maritime exchanges, trade, culture, and human interaction across the Indian Ocean,” he said.
He referenced leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Seretse Khama as figures who shaped a common vision based on justice, sovereignty and equality among nations.
According to the commissioner, innovation remains one of the central pillars of the summit, with India looking to collaborate with African countries in co-developing affordable and inclusive technological solutions.
“India seeks to work with African countries not merely as a technology provider, but as a collaborative partner in co-developing scalable, affordable, and inclusive solutions,” he said.
He highlighted India’s progress in digital public infrastructure, including digital identity systems, digital payments, telemedicine and e-governance, saying such innovations could support Africa’s transformation agenda.
The commissioner also stressed the need for resilience following lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing global conflicts.
“Building resilience today means resilient healthcare systems, diversified supply chains, food and energy security, sustainable infrastructure, climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and technological self-reliance,” he said.
On Botswana, the commissioner described relations between the two countries as warm and longstanding, saying India has continued to support Botswana through scholarships, healthcare cooperation, IT partnerships and skills development programmes.
He added that there is still untapped potential for deeper collaboration in sectors such as renewable energy, digital innovation, agriculture, AI and startups.
The Commissioner concluded by describing IAFS-IV as “much more than a diplomatic summit,” saying it reflects a shared commitment between India and Africa to build a more inclusive, balanced and sustainable future.