Indian and Tunisian officials have signaled a major push to deepen economic ties, positioning Tunisia as a strategic gateway for Indian expansion into the African continent.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Wednesday at the ninth edition of the FITA2026 conference in Tunis, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Indian Embassy in Tunisia, Rajiv Kumar, revealed that bilateral trade between India and Tunisia currently exceeds 500 million Tunisian dinars. He added that both sides are now working toward reaching the $1 billion mark in the future.
The discussion, organized by the Indian delegation participating in the Financing Investment and Trade in Africa conference, focused on trilateral cooperation between India, Tunisia, and Africa.
Key meetings on the horizon
Kumar announced that the joint India-Tunisia trade and investment committee will convene in New Delhi during May 2026. The aim is to advance mechanisms that will structure bilateral cooperation, including a preferential trade agreement, a double taxation avoidance agreement, and a joint investment treaty. In parallel, efforts are underway to establish a Tunisian-Indian business council.
Phosphates at the top of the priority list
According to Kumar, Tunisia’s phosphate sector remains a top priority for Indian interest, alongside mining, information and communication technology, digital services, pharmaceuticals and health, automotive components, engineering, and renewable energies.
He also noted that cooperation could be expanded into agricultural investment, olive oil, dates, textiles, and conversion industries.
“Given Tunisia’s skilled workforce, favorable investment climate, and strategic location, we are actively encouraging Indian enterprises to use Tunisia as a base for expansion into Africa,” Kumar said, highlighting the role of organizations such as the Tunisia Africa Business Council.
India’s growing engagement with Africa
The Indian diplomat reminded attendees that India will host the fourth edition of the India-Africa Forum Summit in late May 2026, in partnership with the African Union. Furthermore, India will host a three-day Indian-African trade fair and business dialogue forum later that same month.
Africa’s Economic Rise and India’s Growing Footprint
A. Srinivasan, head of the India-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Trade Council and a member of the Indian delegation, underscored Africa’s rising importance on the global economic scene. He noted that the continent’s gross domestic product stands at $3 trillion, with its population expected to grow from the current 1.3 billion to 2.5 billion by 2050.
Srinivasan added that Africa requires between $130 billion and $170 billion annually for infrastructure development, pointing to vast opportunities in construction, transport, renewable energy, and urban development. He also highlighted that Africa accounts for approximately 60% of the world’s total solar energy potential and that the continent’s digital economy was valued at $180 billion in 2025.
Indian investment footprint in Africa
He further noted that Indian investments in Africa currently exceed $75 billion, spanning telecommunications, mining, energy, manufacturing, and financial services. Annual bilateral trade between India and Africa stands at around $98 billion, with commercial potential estimated to reach between $150 billion and $200 billion over the next decade.
FITA2026 as a partnership catalyst
Asif Iqbal, president of the Indian Organization for Economy and Trade, said that the FITA2026 conference had provided a renewed opportunity to explore partnerships with businesses from several African and Asian nations, including Niger, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Cameroon, and China.
TunisianMonitorNews (Tlig Dhouha)
