Opportunity for increasing India’s trade with francophone Africa

West Africa is rewriting its economic playbook. As old ties with France loosen, countries from Mali to Senegal are looking for fresh partnerships that bring fairer deals, better prices, and real investment in their future. For India, which already sells everything from medicines to machinery here, this is a golden moment to step up. With the right mix of local understanding, strong sector expertise, and new initiatives like Bharat Africa Setu, India can turn this shift into a lasting win-win relationship with one of Africa’s most promising regions.

It is important that exporters pay attention to emerging geopolitical development to identify export and investment opportunities.

In recent years, West Africa has witnessed a surge in anti-French sentiment, with several countries—including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Senegal, and Ivory Coast—expelling French troops and reducing reliance on French cooperation. This revolt is driven by frustration over France’s perceived neo-colonial military, political, and economic interventions. Popular protests, political coups, and a generational shift mean that local populations and military regimes are actively seeking alternatives to French influence, diminishing the legacy of “Françafrique”.

As political ties and military cooperation unravel,  preferential treatment for French goods in the region is declining. Historically, French exports benefited from aid-tying, patronage, and special arrangements, making French imports up to 30% more expensive than comparable global goods.

The weakening of the Françafrique network and termination of bilateral defense and cooperation agreements are likely to reduce French imports in West Africa, especially as new governments promote economic diversification and nationalist policies.

While French companies continue to operate in Francophone Africa, they increasingly rely on joint ventures, local partnerships, and project companies under local regulations to avoid backlash and maintain market share “without provoking rejection”. The days of automatic preferences for French firms are ending, replaced by competitive bidding and local empowerment.

Although French exports to Africa have doubled in the last 20 years, the overall African market has quadrupled, effectively halving France’s market share in the region. This reflects a relative loss in economic dominance despite growing absolute export values. This has created a void which rivals in the market like Russia, China and Turkey are exploiting.

Sectors once dominated by French firms (mining, infrastructure, finance) are now seeing strong competition from players based in Australia, Canada, China, Turkey, and Germany, resulting in a more fragmented business landscape.

Replacement alliances—particularly with Russia, China, Turkey and increasingly, India—are gaining ground, with procurement shifting to competitively priced, internationally sourced goods and services. African leaders now seek import partners who offer better terms, infrastructure investment, and respect for sovereignty. More stable countries like Senegal are opting for partnerships based on national interest, seeking deals that provide greater benefits even when partnering with France.

Francophone countries like Ivory Coast and Senegal are highlighted as attractive destinations for Indian investment, particularly in agriculture, mining, and energy.

India’s opportunity: Exports and investments

 India’s merchandise exports to Africa have already reached over US$ 83 billion annually, with ambitions to double to US$ 200 billion by 2030. West Africa represents the largest regional recipient of Indian goods on the continent, despite a recent dip in trade.

Exports to the West African Economic & Monetary Union (WAEMU), an economic community of eight Francophone countries, was US$ 5.9 billion, a growth of 90% in five years. French exports was US$ 3.8 billion in 2024, a growth of only 7% in five years. Out of these, the top five sectors were pharmaceuticals, machinery and electrical equipment, cereals and petroleum products. India is globally competitive in these sectors, as visible in  growth figures. Indian strengths in pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, renewable energy, infrastructure, technology, and consumer goods align well with African developmental needs and are recognized as future growth areas.

Projects like the Bharat Africa Setu, launched in 2025, are designed to facilitate Indian exporters’ access to distribution networks and financing, targeting growth in Africa’s total imports, which stand at US$ 695 billion in 2024. India aims to raise its share from 6.5% to 12% by 2030.

Platforms such as the Francophone Africa Business Summit in 2025 are bringing together decision-makers from Anglophone and Francophone Africa to forge practical business relationships, with India positioned as a key external partner.

By focusing on strategic regional collaboration, defending Global South aspirations, and enhancing people-to-people ties, India is well-placed to compete with China for influence in West Africa. Success will depend on tailoring investments to local needs, strengthening connectivity, and leveraging favourable trade arrangements in this resource rich region.

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Article authored by Suhayl Abidi, Research Advisor, Govt. of Guj-AMA Centre of International Trade

(All views expressed are personal)