India turns East Africa into clean energy supply hub to beat logistics finance bottlenecks and deepen industry ties
Nearly $16 billion trade is still blocked by transit routes
India is recalibrating its economic approach to East Africa as global supply chains realign and energy transition needs intensify. At a conference in New Delhi hosted by Chintan Research Foundation, speakers said bilateral trade has climbed steadily to nearly $16 billion, with strong import growth in 2024–25. The next step, they argued, is deeper industrial integration, regional value chains, and digital connectivity—especially around critical minerals. Bottlenecks in logistics, trade finance, and routing via West Asian hubs must be addressed for scale. Renewable energy cooperation was flagged as a long-term strategic collaboration.
- India East Africa bilateral trade has nearly reached $16 billion
- Imports from East Africa grew strongly in 2024–25, according to the conference
- Lithium, cobalt, copper, and graphite are central to India’s clean energy plans
- Cargo often transits through West Asian hubs, raising costs and risks
- Port upgrades and stronger trade-finance mechanisms are seen as unlocks
- AfCFTA may help, but uneven readiness and implementation gaps persist
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times