India-Chad Relations

Political Relations:

Relations between India and Chad remain cordial and there is considerable goodwill and admiration for India. There is large scope for mutually beneficial co-operation in hydrocarbon, infrastructure and capacity building sectors.

Chad is a member of TEAM-9 (Techno-Economic Approach for African Movement) initiative comprising of eight West and Central African countries seeking to benefit in technical and economic spheres through cooperation with India. Chad has been a beneficiary of India Line of Credit of US$ 50 million for five projects which they highly appreciate.

High level contacts and cooperation between India and Chad have picked up since 2004 with the following bilateral Visits & High level interactions:

 HE Mr. Nagoum Yamassoum, Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister visited India to participate in the first ever Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership, held in New Delhi from March 2-4, 2005.  HE Mr. Routouang Yoma Golom, Minister of Commerce and Industry, visited India from March 23-25, 2005 to discuss projects under the TEAM-9 initiative.  A large delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Mines & Energy participated at the CII Conclave in October 2006.  A 5-member delegation of Chadian Chamber of Commerce & Industry visited India in February 2007 to attend 17th IETF-2007 in New Delhi on CII invitation.  A 5-member delegation consisting of Minister of Mines & Energy and Minister of Commerce, Industry & Crafts participated at the CII Conclave in Abidjan in August 2007.  A 5-member delegation led by Minister of Petroleum of Chad, HE Mr. Emmanuel Nadingar, attended the 3rd India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference & Exhibition held in Delhi from November 6-7, 2007  The Chadian Trade & Industry Minister Mahamat Abdoulaye Mahamat met Hon’ble MOS(AS) in July, 2008 in Dakar sought closer cooperation with India and increased assistance under Team 9 and also broached the possibility of the visit by his President to India.  Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Mr. Mahamat Bechir Okormi led a 7- member delegation to India from 4-8 September, 2010. Mr. Youssouf Abassalah, Minister of Commerce & Industry accompanied him. The delegation held discussions with MOS (PK), Smt. Preneet Kaur. Foreign Office Consultations Protocol was signed during the visit.  On the sidelines of AU Summit in Addis Ababa (January 2011) MOS(PK) had a meeting with Chadian Foreign Minister, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat

 Chadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mahamat Bechir Okormi participated in the Least Developed Countries’ Foreign Ministers’ Meet held in New Delhi in February 2011.  On May 10 2011, Shri Arun Yadav, Hon’ble MoS(Agriculture) paid a courtesy call on Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno in Ndjamena to deliver Hon’ble PM’s letter of invitation for the second Africa India Forum Summit.  H. E. Mr Idriss Deby Itno, President of Chad had a meeting with Hon’ble PM in Addis Ababa during the Second India Africa Forum Submit (May 2011).  In connection with signing of an agreement for another GOI Line of Credit of $ 40.32 million, H.E. Mr. Mahamat Ali Hassan, Chadian Minister of Planning, Economy and International Cooperation visited New Delhi from January 18- 20 2012.  A cotton delegation from IL&FS of India visited Chad from 30 May to 1 June and had meetings with relevant Chadian officials.  Shri Sanjiv Kohli, Joint Secretary (West Africa), Indian Ministry of External Affairs visited Chad and held Foreign Office Consultations with Chadian side in August 2012. He also met PM and the Foreign Minister of Chad.  Minister of Commerce & Industry and Minister in President’s Office for Infrastructure & Equipment along with a business delegation attended Africa- CII-Exim Bank Conclave in March 17-19, 2013.  Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat paid an official visit to New Delhi on 13th August, 2013. He had fruitful discussions with EAM and MOS(PK). Chadian Government has decided to open a Resident Mission in New Delhi.  Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Hamid Mahamat Dahalob, accompanied by a 3-member delegation visited Johannesburg, South Africa to attend the 3rd India-Africa Trade Ministers meeting from September 30 to October 01, 2013.

Commercial and Trade Relations:

During past few years India’s direct bilateral trade with Chad has surged from small base, but yet remains below the potential. However, evidence on ground suggests considerable larger presence of Indian goods, largely imported via Dubai, Cameroon and Nigeria. Despite reminders, Chad has not yet signed Duty Free Preferential Tariffs offered by GoI to all Least Developed Countries.

India - Chad Bilateral Trade Statistics (Value in US$ Mn) Trade Apr 11 to Mar 12 Apr 12 to Mar 13 Growth % Indian Exports 39 46 19.3 India’s Imports 0.15 113* -- (Source: DGFT, Indian Deptt of Commerce) *India started sourcing crude

Latest India - Chad Bilateral Trade Statistics (in US$ Mn)

Indian Exports India’s Imports Total Trade Country Apr-Nov Apr – % Apr - Apr- % Apr- Apr- % 2013 Nov 12 Chang Nov 13 Nov Chang Nov Nov Chan e 2012 e 2013 2012 ge Chad 19.59 13.96 40 29.64 42.95 -30 49.23 56.91 -13 (Source: DGFT, Indian Deptt of Commerce)

Air Connectivity:

There are no direct air connections between India and Chad. Airlines serving Chad include Air France, Ethiopian airlines, Asky and Kenyan Airways. There are two flights a week from Paris to Chad and several times a week from Addis Ababa and Nairobi with connections to India.

Bilateral Indian Grants/Line of Credit:

 GOI donated 5,000 metric tonnes of rice to Chad in 2004.  In July 2005, GOI approved EXIM lines of credit totalling US$ 50 million under the TEAM-9 initiative for 5 projects in Chad pertaining to: (a) Bicycle manufacturing plant; (b) plant for manufacturing and assembly of agricultural tractors, power tillers, trailers and implements; (c) steel billet plant and rolling mill; (d) cotton yarn plant, and (e) a fruit juice plant.  A GoI Line of Credit of $ 40.32 million for the following four projects became operational after signing of agreement on January 19, 2012: (a) Compost Production Unit ($ 7.20 million) (b) Rural Electrification Project (solar energy) ($ 15 million) (c) Production Unit for Livestock Feed ($ 2.22 million) (d) Extension of spinning mill (addition of weaving and processing capacities) ($ 15.90 million).  Another LoC of $ 18.08 million was approved by Government of India in May 2012 for pharmaceutical manufacturing plant which has also become operational.

Pan African e-Network: Chadian government signed in 2009 an MoU paving the way for their participation in Pan African e-Network. The installation of the network has commenced in Chad and a TCIL expert has been deployed in Ndjamena.

Indian Companies in Chad:

 Indian economic presence in Chad received a big boost in June 2010 through Airtel’s $1 billion acquisition of Zain Telecom. Airtel is now Chad’s biggest network and is investing $ 100 million in expansion of the network.  Some Indian private companies are in the process of starting ventures in the pharmaceutical, foodstuffs, restaurants, and edible oil, etc. sectors in Chad.

Some of the Indian companies based in Nigeria and Tanzania are also exploring opportunities for investment in Chad.  Bharat Heavy Industries have supplied 331 Kilometres of pipes for the oil refinery project.

ITEC & Culture:

Till 2006-07, Chad was allotted 5 slots under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. However, since the first India-Africa Forum Summit in 2008, the ITEC quota for Chad has increased progressively from 20 slots in 2011-12 (4 utilised) to 25 slots in 2012-13 (8 utilised). The country has been awarded 25 ITEC slots in 2013-14 and so far 7 have been utilised. A Chadian diplomat participated in the 55th Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) organized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in August 2012 in New Delhi. Separately, for past few years, a number of Chadian youth have been availing of Hindi language training fellowships in India. Some of them have began direct imports of Indian goods and studies in India.

Indian Community:

There are about 200 Indians in Chad working mostly in oil projects, international organisations, missionaries, Airtel operations and foreign trade. There have been some cases of maltreatment of Indians in hands of local employers and authorities. In February 2008, due to rebel attacks on N’djamena, High Commission facilitated evacuation of Indian community from Chad. Following return to more peaceful conditions, most of them returned to Chadian capital.

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January 2014