At the 20th CII India–Africa Business Conclave, Mr. Rajiv Memani, President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), underscored the growing importance of the India–Africa partnership in a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty and economic realignments.
“India and Africa share deep historical bonds and a common voice in the Global South,” he remarked, noting that in the face of conflicts, shifting trade dynamics, and global uncertainties, the partnership has never been more critical.
Memani highlighted India’s emergence as the world’s fourth-largest economy, soon to become the third, and stressed that India’s ambitions extend beyond growth statistics. “Beyond size and scale, India aspires to be a reliable trading partner and a champion of the Global South—walking shoulder to shoulder with Africa on the path to inclusive and sustainable development,” he said.
Drawing lessons from India’s own development journey, Memani pointed to four areas of special relevance for Africa. The first, digital public infrastructure, has been transformative in India. Aadhaar provided over a billion citizens with digital identity, UPI revolutionised financial transactions—now accounting for nearly 50% of global real-time digital payments—and platforms like CoWIN, Diksha, and ONDC opened new models for education, healthcare, and commerce. “These open-source, low-cost platforms are highly adaptable for African nations, and India is already working with Mauritius, Ghana, and Namibia to share these solutions,” he underlined.
Healthcare and education form another vital pillar of collaboration. India’s reputation as a trusted supplier of affordable medicines and vaccines has been complemented by initiatives like the Pan-African e-Network, which delivers tele-education and telemedicine services across the continent. Memani noted, “If we can expand people-to-people models of collaboration—whether through speciality hospitals or small clinics—we can help build resilient healthcare ecosystems across Africa.”
Turning to infrastructure, Memani pointed to India’s dramatic progress over the past decade. Port capacity has doubled, railway electrification has tripled, and the number of airports has expanded from 75 to more than 150. Such experience, he said, can be shared with Africa to catalyse development. “By leveraging this experience through public–private partnerships, India can play a catalytic role in Africa’s infrastructure growth,” he explained.
Equally significant is the evolution of manufacturing and industrial collaboration. The India–Africa relationship is shifting from a traditional buyer–seller dynamic to one of co-development and local investment. “Today, Indian companies are increasingly co-developing solutions and establishing manufacturing bases in Africa—creating jobs, building capacity, and fostering true partnerships,” Memani observed.
Looking ahead, he pointed to new areas of opportunity such as renewable energy, clean technologies, defence cooperation, and mining partnerships. “With growing investments in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and mining supply chains, Africa can play a strategic role in India’s pursuit of energy independence, while benefiting from technology transfer and investment,” he said.
Memani also stressed the need to move beyond goodwill to concrete outcomes. “India and Africa enjoy immense goodwill, deep political trust, and a shared commitment to inclusive growth. The challenge before us is how to translate these strengths into economic opportunity—into physical and social infrastructure that makes our partnership truly transformational.”
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