Ankita Yadav from the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce attended the milestone 20th CII India-Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi, where it was announced that India-Africa bilateral trade has crossed the historic US$100 billion mark for the first time. The landmark event, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, brought together over 1,600 delegates from 64 countries, underscoring a strategic shift in South-South cooperation.
The three-day conclave highlighted the deepening economic partnership between India and Africa, with Indian Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh noting that bilateral trade volume has nearly doubled in five years.
India has extended concessional loans worth over US$12 billion and provided US$700 million in grant assistance for projects across Africa. To further strengthen ties, India has offered 50,000 scholarships to African youth, with more than 42,000 already utilised. The event not only celebrated economic achievements but also reinforced a comprehensive approach to cooperation, setting the stage for future growth and collaboration between the two regions.