In a significant development underscoring India’s expanding engagement with Africa, the Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO) hosted a diplomatic forum in Chennai on July 21, 2025, featuring Her Excellency Mrs. Ildjima Badda Mallot, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad to India. The event, held at Hotel Ramada, spotlighted “Chad Vision 2030” — the Central African nation’s national transformation agenda.
The high-level diplomatic forum brought together Indian industry leaders, policymakers, trade officials, academics, and international relations experts to explore pathways for stronger bilateral cooperation. The central focus remained Chad’s long-term vision for peace, stability, and sustainable development, as well as the role India could play as a trusted partner in achieving these goals.
Ambassador Badda Mallot, addressing the gathering, elaborated on Chad Vision 2030 as a roadmap aimed at inclusive governance, infrastructure modernization, green energy transition, and human capital development. “Chad is committed to building a resilient, self-reliant economy powered by innovation, investment, and global partnerships,” she noted. “We invite Indian companies and institutions to be part of our growth journey, particularly in key sectors like energy, infrastructure, agriculture, education, telecommunications, and healthcare.”
Highlighting the country’s openness to foreign investment and public-private partnerships, the ambassador emphasized Chad’s strategic positioning in Central Africa and its aspirations to emerge as a logistics and energy hub for the region. “Indian businesses are already present in Chad in sectors like telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. We want to see this cooperation expand with deeper institutional engagements and sectoral synergies,” she said.
The forum marked a renewed push to strengthen India Chad ties within the broader context of South South cooperation and Africa-focused diplomacy. The Indian Economic Trade Organization, which has been instrumental in facilitating cross-border trade and diplomatic missions, played a key role in curating the dialogue.
Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of IETO and Guest of Honour at the forum, reaffirmed India’s long-standing commitment to African development. “India’s engagement with Chad and other African nations goes beyond aid or trade. It is about building trust-based, mutually beneficial partnerships,” he said. “This forum is a reminder that diplomacy in the 21st century must be people-centered and development-driven.”
He further added that Indian capabilities in IT, education, engineering, and sustainable technologies align closely with the aspirations of emerging African economies like Chad. “India and Chad already have strong diplomatic ties, and the time is ripe to institutionalize economic cooperation through structured dialogue and follow-up mechanisms,” Dr. Iqbal remarked.
One of the key outcomes of the event was the proposal to establish a Chad India Economic Forum — a joint platform that would facilitate trade missions, sectoral studies, and strategic investment plans between both countries. According to IETO, preliminary discussions are underway to send an Indian business delegation to N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, later this year, aimed at identifying concrete opportunities and ground-level initiatives.
The forum also delved into the prospects of trilateral cooperation, wherein Indian businesses could leverage international development finance or co-investment models in Chad with the support of African and global institutions. Emphasis was placed on sustainable and scalable projects that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
From Chad’s perspective, the country is looking to fast-track its digital transformation and energy infrastructure with global partners. Several Indian participants expressed interest in exploring renewable energy partnerships, including solar grid projects, vocational skill centers, and technology transfers tailored to the Chadian context.
Education and health also emerged as important areas of collaboration. Ambassador Mallot acknowledged India’s success in affordable healthcare and medical training, expressing optimism about future medical exchange programs and capacity-building initiatives.
The event concluded with a mutual commitment to deepen bilateral ties based on transparency, long-term planning, and measurable impact. Attendees underscored the importance of translating diplomatic vision into tangible economic outcomes through business matchmaking, intergovernmental support, and timely facilitation.
With India now among the top ten global investors in Africa and Chad intensifying its international partnerships to deliver on Vision 2030, the Chennai forum stands as a timely reaffirmation of shared ambitions. It also reinforces India’s strategy of inclusive diplomacy — one that recognizes Africa not as a destination for charity but as a partner in global development.
As one of the fastest-growing diplomatic and trade platforms in the country, IETO continues to play a catalytic role in bridging Indian enterprise with global opportunity. Forums like these not only boost bilateral trust but also inspire a new generation of diplomatic and economic architects.
