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:

 Mr. Nagoum Yamassoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Chad, visited India as Leader of the Chadian delegation to participate in the first ever Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships, held in New Delhi from March 2-4, 2005.  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 Chadian delegation headed by Vice-President of Chamber of Commerce & Industry visited India from February 13-16, 2007 to attend 17th IETF-2007 in New Delhi on invitation of CII.  A 5-member delegation consisting of Minister of Mines & Energy and Minister of Commerce, Industry & Crafts participated at the CII Conclave in Abidjan from August 1 – 2, 2007.  A 5-member delegation led by Minister of Petroleum of Chad, 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.  Chadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, 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 (27-28 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 LDCs 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 India Africa Forum Submit (May 2011).  In connection with signing of an agreement for another GOI LoC 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.  3 participants from Chad attended Technical Assistance Programme in cotton sector in Hyderabad organised under IAFS-II in October 2012.

Commercial and Trade Relations India’s bilateral trade with Chad is small and below the potential. However, evidence on ground suggests considerable more presence of Indian goods, largely imported from Dubai, Cameroon and Nigeria. Despite reminders, Chad has not yet signed Duty Free Preferential Tariffs offered by GoI to all LDCs.

India - Chad Bilateral Trade Statistics (Value in US$ Mn) Trade Apr 10 to Mar 11 Apr 11 to Mar 12 Growth % Export 12.00 38.91 224.21 Import 0.57 0.15 -73.57 Total Trade 12.57 39.06 210.73 Source: DGFT, Indian Deptt of Commerce

India - Chad Bilateral Trade Statistics (in US$ Mn) Trade April-October 2012 April-October 2011 Growth % Export 12.47 21.65 -42.4% Import 4.88 0.15 --- Total Trade 17.35 21.80 -20.4%

(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 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.  Another GoI 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 has been approved by Government of India in May 2012 for pharmaceutical manufacturing plant which has been duly conveyed to the Chadian authorities.

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:  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.  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.

ITEC & Culture

Till 2006-07, Chad was allotted 5 slots under ITEC. However after the India-Africa Forum Summit in 2008, the ITEC quota for chad has continued to increase with 20 slots in 2011-12 of which 4 were utilised and 25 slots in the current year (2012-13) of which 11 have been utilised till December 2012. A Chadian diplomat has been selected to participate in the 55th Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) being organized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in August 2012 in New Delhi. Separately, for past few years, a number of Chadian youngmen have been availing of Hindi language training in India.

Indian Community

There are about 200 Indians in Chad working mostly in oil projects, international organisations, missionaries, and engaged in foreign trade in Chad. 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.

December 2012