Cultural Roots and Commerce: How India and Africa Can Grow Together

When the Bharat Chamber of Commerce gathered traders in Kolkata last week, the atmosphere felt more like a reunion than a conference. Long‑standing friendships between India and Africa were on the table, and the speakers kept coming back to one simple idea: culture can be a catalyst for business.

Joint Secretary A. Ajay Kumar of India’s Ministry of External Affairs opened the session by reminding the audience that trade between the two continents dates back centuries. “We’ve been exchanging goods for a very long time,” he said, smiling. “Now it’s time to move from merely moving raw material to actually creating value together.” His words set the tone – the event was not just about spotting opportunities, but about turning those opportunities into concrete partnerships.

Kwasi Agyemang Gyan‑Tutu, Ghana’s Minister of Investment and Tourism in New Delhi, echoed that sentiment with a cultural twist. “Our relationship is rooted in centuries of shared music, cuisine, and even language,” he told the crowd, pausing to let the point sink in. “If we tap those deep cultural ties, we can build trade that goes beyond the basics – think agro‑processing, textile design, renewable‑energy projects – the whole value chain, not just raw beans or minerals.” He added that many African economies are already shifting from raw‑material exporters to producers of finished goods, and he urged Indian companies to join them on that journey.

The recent BRICS summit in Delhi, which highlighted South‑South cooperation, was another focal point. Gyan‑Tutu warned that summit declarations often stay on paper. “We need visible, on‑the‑ground agreements,” he urged, hoping the next round of talks would result in joint ventures that can be seen in factories and farms across Africa.

From the business side, Varun Agrawal, managing director of Manaksia Steels Ltd., shared his own three‑decade‑long experience on the continent. “I’ve seen the ground realities – the demand for steel, the appetite for infrastructure,” he said. “If Indian firms can bring technology and capital, we can create jobs and, more importantly, local expertise.” He also noted that Africa’s presence in BRICS is growing – South Africa has been a member for years, and Nigeria recently received an invitation – which, in his view, signals a “more coordinated” approach to trade.

Adding a geopolitical lens, former Indian ambassador to Africa Mahesh Sachdev reminded everyone that today’s global turbulence makes these ties even more crucial. With wars disrupting oil and grain supplies and choke points like the Bab‑el‑Mandeb Strait under strain, India can no longer rely solely on traditional routes. “Africa offers alternative sources for commodities and new markets for our exports,” he explained. “The current climate turns the continent from a peripheral player into a central partner.”

He also highlighted that three African nations – Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa – are now BRICS members, and India even invited the African Union head from Burundi to the summit. “That kind of political synergy paves the way for economic synergy,” Sachdev concluded.

In the end, the consensus was clear: cultural familiarity should not just be a footnote in diplomatic speeches. It can be the very fabric that weaves together factories, farms, universities and start‑ups across two vibrant regions. If policymakers, diplomats and business leaders keep that thread alive, the next decade could see Indian and African companies not only trading more, but building together.