• Gautam kumar

India and Africa share deep social and economic relations dating back thousands of years when Indian traders first sailed to the east coast of Africa in search of agricultural and animal products, gems and minerals. The establishment of the Omani suzerainty in the 17th century over Zanzibar and its hinterland reinforced this relationship, and some Indian merchants and business owners who live in Eastern Africa today trace their roots to this period. Trade relations between India and Africa after independence reflected their shared colonial past, with Europe remaining the main trading partner. However, over the last decade, and with the emergence of the Global South, bilateral trade between India and Africa has recorded impressive growth with India emerging as Africa’s fourth-largest trading partner. This has been supported by various initiatives undertaken by the government of India, including “Focus Africa” launched in March 2002, which aims at increasing interactions between the two regions through bilateral trade and investment; 1 India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference scheme for the Least Developed Countries in 2008; and the institution of India-Africa Summits and private sector–led conclaves. These initiatives have succeeded in lifting bilateral trade and investment flows between the two historical partners to new heights.

"India’s bilateral trade with Africa continent : An analytical survey", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 1, page no.846-853, January-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1901C16.pdf

"India’s bilateral trade with Africa continent : An analytical survey", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 1, page no. pp846-853, January-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1901C16.pdf