India-Africa Forum Summit 2026 to deepen trade, tech and agricultural links
The fourth India‑Africa Forum Summit (IAFS‑IV) will be held in New Delhi on 31 May 2026 at the Bharat Mandapam, marking a return after a ten‑year gap. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to lead a high‑level Nigerian delegation, underscoring Nigeria’s role as Africa’s largest democracy and a key trade partner with bilateral commerce worth $8‑9 billion per year.
The summit’s agenda, branded the “India‑Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience and Inclusive Transformation (IA SPIRIT),” focuses on security cooperation, expanding trade, digital public‑infrastructure (digital payments, ICT in education) and improving market access for agricultural products. Ghana, hosting the African Continental Free Trade Area secretariat, will also feature prominently, with trade between India and Ghana surpassing $8 billion in FY 2025‑26. The Confederation of Indian Industry will organise an India‑Africa Business Dialogue and exhibition alongside the summit.
Development cooperation is highlighted through programmes such as ITEC training, ICCR scholarships, and joint projects like the Tema‑Mpakadan railway and the Ghana‑India Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence. Side events, including cultural festivals, aim to foster private‑sector links and people‑to‑people connections across the two regions.