Addis Ababa: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has called for stronger India-Africa cooperation in trade, technology, healthcare and infrastructure, while urging reforms in international institutions to ensure fairer representation for developing nations.
Addressing an event at the Adwa Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa, Jaishankar said India and Africa shared a history of solidarity, common development priorities and an interest in building a more representative global order. He emphasised that both sides should strengthen their domestic capabilities and shape their development pathways rather than remain overly dependent on external powers.
Drawing parallels between India’s Viksit Bharat vision for 2047 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the minister highlighted shared priorities such as infrastructure, connectivity, technological advancement and investment in human capital. He also stressed the importance of expanding opportunities for women and young people while pursuing sustainable growth.
Jaishankar encouraged Indian businesses to explore investment opportunities across Africa in sectors including manufacturing, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, energy, mining, agriculture, financial services and information technology. He said bilateral trade turnover was approaching $100 billion, describing commercial cooperation as an important driver of employment and local value addition.
A key focus of his address was reform of the United Nations Security Council. Jaishankar argued that existing global institutions did not adequately reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. Recalling India’s efforts during its 2023 G20 presidency to secure permanent membership for the African Union, he called for a more democratic and representative system of global governance.
He also referred to the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sette Declaration, which outline Africa’s position on representation in the Security Council, stressing that reforms should address both permanent and non-permanent membership.
Highlighting the historical links between India and Africa, Jaishankar spoke about centuries of trade, migration and cultural exchange across the Indian Ocean. He also recalled their shared experiences of colonialism and India’s solidarity with African liberation movements, including the struggle against apartheid.
The minister identified digital public infrastructure as another promising area for collaboration, citing digital identity, payment systems, financial inclusion and public-service delivery. He pointed to opportunities in space technology, drones and artificial intelligence, adding that inclusive and human-centred technological development could offer common ground for both sides.
Healthcare cooperation also featured prominently in his remarks. Jaishankar highlighted India’s role as a supplier of affordable medicines to African countries and recalled that India supplied more than 40 million doses of domestically produced vaccines to 42 African nations during the COVID-19 pandemic. He called for greater pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity within Africa to strengthen regional health security and improve access to essential medicines.
Reaffirming Africa’s importance in India’s foreign policy, Jaishankar referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kampala Principles, articulated in 2018, as a framework for engagement with the continent.
His visit to Ethiopia was part of a three-country African tour that also included Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The address underscored India’s emphasis on expanding economic and technological partnerships with African nations while advocating a greater role for developing countries in shaping international decisions.
