India woos Africa at bilateral summit.

Nov 02, 2015 India recently hosted the biggest-ever African summit as it tries to challenge China’s dominance on a continent. Blessed with vast natural resources, Africa presents great opportunities for trade and economic cooperation.

Although India’s headline economic growth has overtaken China’s, it still lacks the financial heft to challenge China in a head-to-head contest for the African market.

Consequently, India wants its involvement in Africa to be less transactional than China’s and is seeking a development partnership for the two regions.

India’s trading ties with Africa dates back to antiquity. Although its influence faded over the course of the Cold War as it withdrew into non-aligned isolation.

Still India wants to project its soft power and historical ties to Africa in contrast to China’s focus on resource extraction and capital investment.