Trade

International Trade

Introduction

Traditionally, relations between India and countries of Africa continent have remained close and cordial. However, commercial relations have not grown commensurately. The main reasons that affected our trade with the region were: distance, language barriers, inadequacy of information about business opportunities, incidence of civil strife, macro-economic instability and the modest progress made in liberalization and privatisation.

Commerce and Industry Minister, Government of India announced the Focus Africa Programme with a focus on seven countries of Sub-Saharan Region viz. South Africa, Nigeria, Mauritius, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia on 31st March 2002 along with the announcement of the EXIM Policy for the years 2002-07. With a view to further enhance India's trade with Africa the scope of this Programme was further extended with effect from 1st April 2003 to all the other countries of the Sub-Saharan African region, where India has Diplomatic Missions i.e. Angola, Botswana, Ivory-Coast, Madagascar, Mozambique, Senegal, Seychelles, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe, along-with the six countries of North Africa viz. Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Sudan, Morocco and Algeria. As many Missions in Sub Saharan Africa are concurrently accredited to other countries in the region, the Programme in effect, therefore covers the entire African continent.

Under this Programme, the Government of India extends assistance to exporters, Export Promotion Councils, etc. to visit these countries, organise trade fairs and invite African trade delegations to visit India. The initiatives taken under this Programme have received an encouraging response from the Indian exporting community. It is likely to further boost bilateral trade in the coming years.