On May 3, 2025, President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking the first official state visit by an Angolan head of state to India in 38 years. The visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
During his four-day visit, President Lourenço engaged in high-level discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, focusing on enhancing cooperation across various sectors. Key areas of collaboration include trade, energy, agriculture, defense, and digital infrastructure. Notably, India extended a $100 million Line of Credit to Angola for defense procurement, underscoring the strategic partnership between the countries.
Bilateral trade has seen significant growth, reaching $4.22 billion in the 2022–23 fiscal year, with India emerging as Angola’s third-largest trading partner. Both nations are working to diversify their trade relations, moving beyond oil to include sectors like pharmaceuticals, diamonds, and agriculture.
President Lourenço’s visit also emphasized cultural and educational exchanges, with plans to initiate youth exchange programs and collaboration in space technology and capacity building. Additionally, Angola expressed interest in joining India’s initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
This landmark visit is expected to usher in a new era of India-Angola relations, fostering deeper economic, strategic, and cultural ties between the two countries
News Mania Desk /Photo Credit : Sipra Das, 3rd May 2025
