3rd India – Africa Forum Summit (IAFS–III)

Commemorative Postage Stamp

The Third India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS–III) was held in New Delhi from 26–29 October 2015, marking a historic milestone in India’s engagement with Africa. Unlike the previous two summits—held in New Delhi in 2008 and Addis Ababa in 2011—this edition was the first to invite all 54 African nations with which India has diplomatic ties, making it one of the largest gatherings of African leaders on Indian soil.

A Bond Rooted in History

The partnership between India and Africa rests on centuries-old links shaped by Indian Ocean trade, cultural exchanges, and the presence of a vibrant Indian diaspora across the African continent. This diaspora has played a significant role in strengthening socio-economic bonds and fostering goodwill between the two regions.

Both India and Africa share values of cooperation, mutual respect, and inclusive development, shaped by their common historical experiences and collective aspirations in the post-colonial world. The two regions continually work together to build a fairer global system and ensure that the concerns of developing nations are addressed on international platforms.

A Multidimensional Development Partnership

India–Africa cooperation spans a wide range of development-oriented initiatives. This partnership is built on trust, shared experiences, and the spirit of South–South cooperation. Its key pillars include:

• Human Resource Development

Scholarships, training programmes, and capacity-building initiatives across diverse sectors.

• Technical and Educational Support

Assistance in education, healthcare, and institution-building.

• Development Projects

Implementation of projects aimed at empowering local communities and strengthening infrastructure.

• Knowledge Sharing

Sharing Indian experience in areas such as agriculture, poverty reduction, small industries, and governance.

• Humanitarian Assistance

Support during natural disasters and emergencies.

• Food and Energy Security

Cooperation in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and resource management.

• Trade and Economic Integration

Joint efforts to promote trade, investment, and integration into global value chains.

Growing Trade and Investment

India–Africa economic engagement has grown exponentially.

• In the last 15 years, bilateral trade increased more than twenty-fold.
• In 2014–15, the trade volume reached USD 72 billion.
• Indian investments in Africa are estimated at USD 30–35 billion and have expanded across sectors such as telecom, mining, energy, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

Scholarships and Capacity Building

Since the Second India–Africa Summit:

• Over 24,000 scholarships were offered to African nations.
• More than 300 training programmes were conducted across 60 premier Indian institutions.
• Additional opportunities were provided for higher education in Indian universities.

Lines of Credit and Development Projects

India approved nearly USD 9 billion in concessional Lines of Credit, supporting around 140 projects in over 40 African countries.
Special focus was given to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address their specific developmental needs.
So far, nearly 60 projects have been completed, spanning agriculture, energy, transport, rural development, and capacity building.

A Summit of Global Significance

IAFS–III coincided with several landmark global events:

• 70th Anniversary of the United Nations
• Adoption of the African Union’s Agenda 2063
• Golden Jubilee of the Group of 77 (G77)
• Launch of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development
• The Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa)
• The upcoming COP 21 Climate Conference in Paris
• The 2015 WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi

Amid these global developments, India and Africa identified shared priorities for inclusive growth, sustainable development, and poverty eradication.

Celebrating an Enduring Partnership

The Third India–Africa Forum Summit served as a powerful platform to reaffirm the warm and enduring friendship between India and Africa, while shaping a future-oriented vision for stronger diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation.

To commemorate this historic summit, the Department of Posts, Government of India, proudly released a special postage stamp, symbolizing the shared journey, solidarity, and partnership between India and Africa.