Mint Explainer: How India is increasing its outreach in Africa
Mint breaks down how. Hassan’s visit drove India’s relationship with Tanzania forward in key ways. First, bilateral ties were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership.
Both sides also agreed to deepen their relationship in defence and political affairs. Defence is particularly important since Tanzania, located in east Africa, is an important part of India’s search for partners to maintain stability in the Western Indian Ocean. Both sides also signed a White Shipping information-sharing agreement.
In technology, India offered its expertise in space and digital payments. Both sides also expressed a desire to expand trade in their national currencies. At one level, India is looking to expand its economic footprint in Africa.
India’s economic ties with the continent have deepened and trade is expected to cross $100 billion soon. New Delhi has extended lines of credit of over $1 billion to the east African nation and most of this has gone into water-supply projects. Given that maritime and defence cooperation is important for India’s regional defence strategy, New Delhi is also helping Tanzania modernise its armed forces.
In June the two countries agreed on a five-year roadmap for defence cooperation, focusing on training, building capacity, maritime cooperation, building infrastructure, and collaborating on defence equipment and technology. India’s offer of space and digital payments technology is part of Delhi’s push to brand itself as a power that has the capacity to deliver on the needs of the global south. India has also started to export its major education brands.
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