INDIA-AFRICA CLIMATE DIPLOMACY: BUILDING GREEN PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE FUTURE

India and Africa deepen ties through trade, climate diplomacy, and green transition initiatives.

- TRISHALA ANAND SANCHETI

HISTORICAL TIES BETWEEN INDIA AND AFRICA

India and Africa share deep-rooted historical ties dating back to shared solidarity against colonial rule and have historically worked through platforms like the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) where both India and the broader African continent rejected the bloc politics of USA and USSR and advanced the interests of recently decolonized countries.

Since the 1990s, India has prioritized its relationship with Africa and the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank launched the 'Focus Africa' initiative in 2002-03 with the aim of enhancing trade between India and Africa and identifying potential areas of trade and investment. India has emerged as the continent's fourth-largest trading partner, reaching over $100 billion and India has invested about $75 billion dollars in the continent to date and aims to double the investment to $150 billion by 2030. Government of India has also provided 196 Line of Credits (LOCs) worth over $12 billion to 42 African countries. India has also advocated for Africa's greater representation in forums such as BRICS, United Nations and G20 and has also been instrumental in getting AU permanent membership at the G20 during its presidency.

CLIMATE DIPLOMACY BETWEEN AFRICA AND INDIA