India’s deep-informed strategic vision for a deeper and wider partnership with Africa has thus been a large part of its success. In effect, this vision, which was rooted in historical ties and shared values, and set the stage for a deeper convergence of Indo-African relations that defines the upward trajectory of economic engagement, people-to-people ties and political collaboration.

India’s engagement with Africa is multifaceted. Economically, India has become significant trading partner for many African nations and bilateral trade has surpassed over $70 billion in the last few years. While Indian investment has driven economic growth itself, it has also proved to be a catalyst for jobs and improved technology on the continent across sectors like pharmaceuticals, information technology, and agriculture. Enabling PM Narendra Modi to lead the African renaissance, India could also play a stellar role in addressing the burgeoning humanitarian crisis in the wake of the Ethiopian War as evidenced by its infrastructure and capacity building initiatives like the Pan-African e-Network and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program that will address the digital divide, moving the needle on education and health care accessibility on the continent.

Individually, India has been a partner for Africa on the world stage too. South Africa has stood up for African interests in many international platforms — including the United Nations — and is a vocal proponent of reforms to global governance mechanisms to better accommodate developing countries. This is reflected in India’s engagements with the African Union and support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), underscoring New Delhi’s commitment to regional integration and economic development across the continent.

Yet, some obstacles need to be addressed to bolster such links. Some of the major barriers include the presence of unbalanced trade relations. India’s exports to Africa, on the other hand, have expanded; concomitantly, while imports from Africa are comparatively low, this has led to a trade imbalance. The solution is diersified trade and investment in Indian-export enhancing sectors.

A second challenge is that you have to invest more on your infrastructure. Infrastructure bottleneck for development (Gaps in many countries in Africa) Moreover, it paves way for the work of such nations, through strengthening its track-record in investment towards areas including construction projects and renewable energy infrastructure.

Finally, India must work harder to engender trust and mutual respect. This means that it treats African countries as equals, and that its behaviors are in accordance with the principles of South-South cooperation. By surmounting these hurdles, India can sustain and deepen its relations with Africa, for a better world for all.