India’s ties with Africa have multiplied over the last two decades. Starting with the country’s economic boom in the 1990s, India–Africa trade has rapidly expanded from US$7.2 billion in 2001 to a peak of US$78 billion by 2014, levelling-off so that the reported 2019 level was US$69 billion. The Indian government has also launched a diplomatic offensive. Top-level political summits began in 2008, with 2015 seeing all African countries represented in a lavish red-carpet event in Delhi. A similar summit was scheduled for 2020, prior to the spread of Covid-19. To back up this action, India has launched a subsidised loan scheme for governments in Africa, increased scholarships for African citizens studying in India and expanded development grants. A highlight of India’s development cooperation is a US$1 billion e-network that uses internet connections and new communications technology to link hospitals and universities in country and continent for shared learning and additional training opportunities.
Consequently, India is now one of the major, top-10 powers in Africa in terms of trade, investment, diplomacy and development cooperation. However, traditionally it is Western countries which are associated with having such influence, economic power and political muscle in Africa. Frequently, this great power status has been controversial. Given Africa’s history of being colonised by the European powers, Western countries’ continued influence has been labelled neo-colonial.
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