India turns to Africa and West Asia for solar exports

The move comes as demand from Europe stagnates and the US turns more protectionist

- Rituraj Baruah

As India ramps up efforts to establish itself as a global renewable energy powerhouse, the government is pursuing direct government-to-government (G2G) engagements with African and West Asian nations to open new markets for Indian green energy firms and solar equipment manufacturers, according to two people aware of the developments.

The move comes as demand from Europe stagnates and the US turns increasingly protectionist. Meanwhile, China continues to dominate the global solar supply chain, particularly in Africa, where its low-cost products have given it an outsized presence.

Indian companies have a strong domestic market, "but beyond this they will have to go for newer markets. And in that, Africa and Middle East present significant scope. Nigeria is one of the countries being looked at," said one of the people cited above, requesting anonymity.