Absence of IAFS for a long period warrant reflecting on the Opportunities and Challenges in India-Africa relations.

• Three IAFS have been held previously in 2008, 2011 and 2015, with a focus on broader development cooperation.

Opportunities in India-Africa Relations

• Trade: African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creates a single market, offering Indian investors immense scale and access.
  • India is Africa's third-largest trading partner (after EU and China) with trade surpassing $100 billion.
• African-led development: Africa has been one of the world’s fastest-growing regions over past decade and this growth translates into an expanding consumer base, growing young workforce and presenting vast market opportunities. 
• Soft Diplomacy: Human resource development through education and healthcare cooperation. 
  • E.g. IITs campuses, Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), Pan-African e-Network.
• Representation in Global Institutions: India supports African representation in global institutions which boosts India’s leadership in global South-South Cooperation. 
  • E.g. India’s push for membership for African Union in the G-20.
• Technological cooperation: India can aid Africa in leapfrogging digital infrastructure deficits through initiatives like Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).