Evolving India–Africa Relations: Continuity and Change
by Ruchita Beri
SAIIA Occasional Paper No 76, February 2011
Download - English [.pdf]
Emerging Powers and Global Challenges Programme
India’s relations with African countries are time-tested and historical; nevertheless in recent years the affiliation has been revitalised. Both continuity and change feature in India’s evolving relations with Africa. India’s engagement with Africa is not only directed towards aiding India’s energy strategy, but has broader goals. Indeed, India’s foray into Africa may be seen as a continuation of the past trend of supporting weaker allies. The trends in trade, the diverse investment profile, as well as various initiatives to augment technical assistance, training and capacity building in Africa, suggest a strategy that has married components of the earlier idealistic policy with strands of pragmatism.
