Leaders, diplomats and policy experts from India and Africa have called for a more action-oriented partnership to strengthen the Global South and shape the emerging global order…reports Asian Lite News Desk
India and African leaders, diplomats and policy experts have called for a stronger and more action-oriented partnership to advance the interests of the Global South and play a greater role in shaping the emerging global order.
The call came during the conference, “Partners for Progress: Africa and India in the Emerging Global Order,” held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 28.
The event was organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation (CDRC). It brought together policymakers, business leaders, diplomats, researchers and development experts from India and across Africa to explore ways of expanding cooperation in key sectors and strengthening the voice of developing nations on the global stage.
Opening the conference, CDRC Executive Director Abdeta Beyene and ORF Vice President Nilanjan Ghosh said the India-Africa relationship should move beyond its historical foundations towards practical collaboration driven by innovation, technology, development finance and institution building.
Delivering the keynote address, India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Anil Kumar Rai, highlighted the shared development ambitions of the two regions.
“Africa has Agenda 2063. India has Vision 2047. Together, these are not just national roadmaps, they are complementary pathways for shared development,” Rai said.
He noted that the long-term development strategies of India and Africa provide opportunities for deeper cooperation in sustainable development, innovation, economic growth and capacity building.
Participants also discussed how India and African nations could make better use of their growing influence in multilateral institutions, including the G20, BRICS and the African Union, to strengthen cooperation on global governance and promote the priorities of the Global South.
The conference examined a broad range of areas where closer collaboration could deliver tangible benefits, including development finance, trade, connectivity, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), healthcare, food security, artificial intelligence, climate resilience and investment.
Speakers stressed that stronger institutions, resilient infrastructure, digital transformation and investment in human capital would be essential to achieving sustainable economic growth and improving living standards across developing countries.
The event also featured a discussion on the report “Breaking Convention: How CareEdge Global Ratings is Redefining Global Credit Risk Assessment,” followed by a special session titled “Reframing Risk, Unlocking Growth.”
During the session, CareEdge Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer Mehul Pandya highlighted the importance of improving global perceptions of investment risk in Africa.
He said strengthening investor confidence and creating transparent financing frameworks would help unlock the continent’s long-term economic potential and attract greater levels of international investment.
Former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Founder of the Yadam Foundation, Ato Demeke Mekonnen, also addressed the conference, calling for a more integrated approach to development.
He emphasised the need to connect healthcare, nutrition, food security, climate resilience and governance while expanding access to digital public infrastructure, affordable healthcare and coordinated financing.
“The global order is dynamic and evolving. In this context, practical, dynamic, and pragmatic partnerships between Africa and India are not only timely, they are essential for the global good,” Mekonnen said.
Throughout the discussions, participants highlighted the growing strategic convergence between India and Africa as both regions seek to increase their influence within an increasingly multipolar world.
Delegates agreed that future cooperation should focus less on declarations and more on implementing practical projects capable of delivering measurable improvements in infrastructure, economic development, technology transfer and human welfare.
The conference concluded with a shared consensus that the next phase of India-Africa engagement should be driven by stronger institutions, practical cooperation and collaborative solutions that promote sustainable development and a more inclusive international order.
Participants said a deeper partnership between India and Africa would not only strengthen bilateral ties but also enhance the collective voice of the Global South in addressing global challenges ranging from climate change and food security to digital transformation and economic resilience.
As both India and Africa continue to expand their influence in international forums, delegates agreed that closer cooperation would be central to shaping a fairer and more representative global order while creating new opportunities for sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
