Friday 01 / May / 2026
The African Development Bank Group and India are stepping up cooperation across digital infrastructure, industrial development and finance, as preparations gather pace for the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit, scheduled to take place in New Delhi on 31 May 2026.
The engagement aligns with the Bank Group’s strategic priorities under its ‘Four Cardinal Points’, particularly efforts to expand access to capital, strengthen financial and digital systems, and accelerate industrialisation across the continent.
India, which joined the African Development Bank Group in 1983, has contributed to all general capital increases, strengthening the institution’s capacity to scale up lending for infrastructure, development projects, and economic recovery in its regional member countries.
Building on this longstanding relationship, collaboration with African countries reflects shared experience in developing scalable, cost-effective solutions for large and diverse populations. This approach to South-South cooperation aligns with the Bank Group’s focus on systems that are locally grounded, adaptable across countries and contexts, and capable of operating at scale.
Expanding Trade and Economic Linkages
Economic ties between India and Africa have deepened significantly in recent years, with bilateral trade approaching $100 billion in 2024-25 across key sectors, including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and technology. This growth is increasingly reflected in African Development Bank-financed operations.
Between 2020 and 2025, Indian companies secured 173 contracts valued at approximately $760 million, representing 5.3 percent of total procurement under Bank-financed projects. This participation strengthens delivery capacity and expands opportunities for private sector involvement in priority sectors.
In September 2024, a Bank Group delegation led by Vice President Solomon Quaynor visited India to deepen commercial linkages and identify new investment opportunities. Discussions with private sector leaders focused on pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and technology, as well as expanding participation in the Bank’s project pipeline.
These activities help align capital, technology, and implementation capacity across partners, enabling scalable solutions that can be deployed across multiple contexts in Africa.
Advancing Digital Systems and Financial Inclusion
Digital public infrastructure is a central area of cooperation. India contributed $2 million to the African Digital Financial Inclusion Facility in 2023 and in 2024, signed the third phase of the Indian Technical Cooperation Agreement (India Trust Fund) worth $6 million. The funding supports the rollout of digital payments, interoperability frameworks and expanded access to financial services.
India’s experience in building large-scale digital platforms offers relevant models as African countries modernise public systems and expand financial inclusion.
Strengthening Health Systems and Industrial Capacity
Cooperation is also advancing in healthcare and manufacturing, particularly in efforts to strengthen local pharmaceutical production.
Africa’s pharmaceutical sector faces an estimated $111 billion investment gap through 2030. Through the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, the Bank Group is supporting technology transfer, local manufacturing and supply chain development to reduce import dependency and improve resilience.
India, a global leader in vaccine and pharmaceutical production, is expected to contribute through industrial partnerships and technology transfer, supporting scalable systems that improve health outcomes while boosting industrial capacity.
Looking Ahead to the India-Africa Forum Summit
The upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit provides a platform to advance new financing and implementation mechanisms and to deepen cooperation across priority sectors. With trade, investment, and technical on the rise, the African Development Bank Group is working to translate this momentum into scalable investments that strengthen economic systems, expand opportunities, and deliver measurable outcomes across its regional member countries.
