As a prelude to the Summit, a series of preparatory meetings will be organized. In this regard, the meeting of foreign ministers of India and Africa will be held on May 29, 2026, preceded on May 28 by a meeting of senior officials. These meetings will focus on the main areas of cooperation, including digital infrastructure, health, education, energy, agriculture and industrial development.
This Summit, which will have the theme “The Spirit of India & Africa – an India-Africa strategic partnership for innovation, resilience and inclusive transformation”, intends to highlight the global and multidimensional dimension of the partnership between India and Africa.
This high-level meeting marks a new step in strengthening mutual engagement, with particular emphasis on digital transformation, economic growth, strategic cooperation as well as inclusive development, all areas in which India and Africa face similar challenges and have significant prospects for cooperation.
Today, Africa remains at the heart of India’s foreign policy. India’s commitment to Africa is part of a clear vision, based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and shared progress. India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision and Africa’s “Agenda 2063” constitute complementary roadmaps aimed at fostering progress and shared prosperity through sustainable growth and inclusive development.
A key foundation of India-Africa relations is our shared aspiration for a more inclusive, equitable and representative world order. India has consistently advocated for the fair representation of Africa in global governance bodies.
In this regard, the admission of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20, under the Indian presidency in 2023, marked a major step forward. This development reflects our deep conviction that the voices of the countries of the South must play a determining role in the direction of tomorrow’s global governance.
In recent years, the partnership between India and Africa has experienced remarkable momentum. Bilateral trade has intensified significantly, while India has asserted itself as a major development partner through the granting of lines of credit, the implementation of capacity building programs as well as the deployment of digital initiatives.
Furthermore, the Indian diaspora in Africa, numbering nearly three million people and particularly dynamic, continues to play a role as a link between our peoples, contributing to the strengthening of economic relations and the deepening of mutual understanding on a cultural and human level.
This Summit should be part of this positive dynamic by opening new prospects for cooperation, particularly in the areas of digital public infrastructure, renewable energies, health and industrial development.
Beyond intergovernmental exchanges, business forums and meetings between the main players in the private sector should also contribute significantly to strengthening economic and commercial partnerships.
This Summit will help to further consolidate a partnership anchored in a common history, mutual respect and converging aspirations. India has constantly affirmed the central place of Africa in its foreign policy, while advocating for more equitable representation of Southern countries within international bodies.
This high-level meeting thus illustrates a renewed commitment to strengthening cooperation between two major players in the Global South, who together represent nearly a third of the world’s population.
The 4e India-Africa Summit will be a major step in strengthening the relations of friendship and cooperation between India and Africa, while further consolidating their partnership within the framework of South-South cooperation. This meeting will also provide the opportunity to highlight the initiatives and progress made over the last decade in terms of good governance and inclusive development.
