The global trading order is in flux—upended by rising protectionism, intensifying US–China competition, and the emergence of regional trade and investment blocs. For India, these disruptions coincide with a strategic shift toward South–South cooperation, supply-chain diversification, and geoeconomic hedging. Africa has become central to this reorientation: it offers expanding consumer markets and deepening trade and investment links with India. Bilateral trade rose from US$68.5 billion to US$83.34 billion between 2011-12 and 2023–24, positioning India as Africa’s third-largest trading partner after the EU and China. Beyond trade, India is Africa’s second-largest lender, channelling much of its aid through the African Development Bank (AfDB). Cumulative Indian investments in Africa from April 2010 to March 2023 totalled US$65.8 billion, with substantial investments in countries such as Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ghana. The country aims to reach an ambitious target of US$150 billion by 2030, underscoring the growing strategic and developmental weight of the partnership.
Tariffs, Trade, and Transformation: India–Africa Rewiring Global Supply Chains
