The first round of India-Chad Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was held in N’Djamena, Republic of Chad, co-hosted by Sevala Naik Mude, Additional Secretary (Central and West Africa), Ministry of External Affairs, and Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs Fatime Aldjineh Garfa, Republic of Chad.
During the consultation, both sides carried out an exhaustive review of India-Chad ties, touching upon key domains of bilateral cooperation, comprising trade, investment, health & pharmaceuticals, education, capacity building, defence, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), agriculture, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Both sides consented to strengthen bilateral ties in these areas and foster cooperation in multilateral conferences.
The discussion also explored regional and global matters of mutual interest. Fatime Aldjineh Garfa appreciated India’s role in procuring the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20, conceding that this advancement bolsters the Global South’s position in the forum.
Mude met the Chadian Prime Minister and Head of Government Ambassador Allah Maye Halina and key ministers, including Dr. Abdelmadjid Abdelkerim of Public Health, Boukar Michel of Telecommunication, Digital Economy, and Digitisation, Kedha Balla from the Agricultural Production and Industrialisation Ministry, Guibolo Fanga Mathieu of the Commerce and Industry Ministry, and Ndolenodji Alix Naimbai of the Mines, Petroleum, and Geology Ministry.
India and Chad maintain friendly and cordial relations based on mutual respect and common values. Over the years, both nations have been part of regular engagements. New domains for cooperation have been explored, comprising agriculture, pharmaceuticals, oil, renewable energy, and defence.
Bilateral trade, which topped out at USD 513.59 million in 2018-19, shrank to USD 83.48 million due to a decrease in crude oil imports by India. Currently, around 45 Indian companies function in Chad, majorly in oil projects, international organisations, and trade. Bharati Airtel, the largest mobile network provider in Chad, has invested over USD 1.5 billion in the country.
Chad has been an active member at the ministerial level in all three sessions of the Voice of Global South Summits (VoGSS) chaired by India, along with other multilateral summits. The nation is also a participant in the International Solar Alliance.
The consultations were held in a welcoming and cordial atmosphere. Both sides consented to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi at a mutually suitable date.