India to host India-Africa summit in New Delhi

The Government of India has announced that it will host the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) in New Delhi on 31st May 2026. Amb Abhishek Singh, High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, disclosed this while addressing a news conference in Abuja on Thursday. He said the last edition was held in 2015, adding that in the […]

The Government of India has announced that it will host the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) in New Delhi on 31st May 2026.

Amb Abhishek Singh, High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, disclosed this while addressing a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He said the last edition was held in 2015, adding that in the last 10 years, both Africa and India have undergone transformational changes.

“IAFS, established in 2008, represents far more than a diplomatic gathering,” he said, adding that, “It is the apex institutional mechanism for India’s comprehensive engagement with Africa, covering the entire spectrum of our relationship: political dialogue, security cooperation, economic ties, trade relations, developmental support, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connections.

“There will be a foreign ministers meeting for the African countries and India on the 29th of May. And preceding that on the 28th of May, there will be a senior officials meeting. There are other important engagements that would be organised before or during the summit.

“One of them is the economic dialogue, where we have invited Nigerian businessmen, industrialists and chambers to participate and define and at times redefine how they look at our engagement.

“There would also be a music and dance festival preceding the summit. There would also be a track two engagement with the African countries.”

While disclosing that all African nations have been invited for the Summit, Amb Singh said Nigeria holds particular significance in this equation.

“As Africa’s largest economy and a nation of immense potential, Nigeria embodies the dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit that defines this continent.

“The India-Africa Forum Summit provides a unique opportunity for Indian businesses and Nigerian enterprises to explore partnerships that can unlock new markets and create shared value. From technology start-ups to manufacturing, from infrastructure development to energy solutions, the possibilities are boundless.

“The IAFS Summit in New Delhi is our chance to recalibrate, recommit, and re-imagine what an India-Africa partnership can achieve.”

According to him, India sees Africa  as an organic partner in its shared growth story, saying it’s “a partner that plays a critical role in boosting India’s growth while we collectively contribute to the development and prosperity of the African continent.”