India's Engagement with East Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

Of Africa's five main regions, East Africa (EA) has enjoyed the oldest links with India. These links were built through trade, commerce and travel across the Indian Ocean dating back to over two thousand years. Over the ensuing years, these linkages have witnessed a phenomenal expansion.

India has taken significant steps to strengthen and diversify its relations with East Africa. In particular, the India-Africa Forum Summit process, initiated in the year 2008, has led to a qualitative transformation of India- East Africa's relationship. It has not only institutionalized India’s interaction with East African countries, both at the regional and the bilateral level, but also has instilled a new momentum to the relations in a comprehensive scale.

As a consequence, development partnerships, economic cooperation, diaspora linkages and security collaboration between both regions have intensified. The influx of Indian developmental assistance, capital and personnel is having potentially profound developmental consequences for the East African countries. The economic partnership with East African countries has become vibrant, extending beyond trade and investment to technology transfers, knowledge sharing, and skills development. Efforts are underway to strengthen linkages with the Indian diaspora in the East Africa region, which has the potential to promote and strengthen bilateral relations. India is also contributing to the peace and stability of the region at the multilateral as well as bilateral level. 

As the engagement is not only fast-moving but also intensifying, it has become all the more pertinent to reflect on the changing contours of the multifaceted partnership and have a realistic assessment. The book provides an understanding of different aspects of multidimensional India- East Africa engagement. It explores India’s opportunities in the region and assesses the local needs, expectations, and concerns.