India-Chad Relations Political Relations Relations between India ...

India-Chad RelationsPolitical RelationsRelations between India and Chad remain cordial and there isconsiderable goodwill and admiration for India. There is large scope for mutuallybeneficial co-operation in hydrocarbon, infrastructure and capacity buildingsectors.2. Chad is a member of TEAM-9 (Techno-Economic Approach for AfricanMovement) initiative comprising of eight West and Central African countriesseeking to benefit in technical and economic spheres through cooperation withIndia. Chad is a beneficiary of a Team 9 Exim Line of Credit of US$ 50 million forfive projects which they highly appreciate.3. High level contacts and cooperation between India and Chad have pickedup since 2004. Bilateral Visits & High level interactions:• Mr. Nagoum Yamassoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister ofChad, visited India as Leader of the Chadian delegation to participate in thefirst ever Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships, held in New Delhifrom March 2-4, 2005.• Mr. Routouang Yoma Golom, Minister of Commerce and Industry, visitedIndia from March 23-25, 2005 to discuss projects under the TEAM-9 initiative.• A large delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Mines & Energyparticipated at the CII Conclave in October 2006.• A 5-member Chadian delegation headed by Vice-President of Chamber ofCommerce & Industry visited India from February 13-16, 2007 to attend 17 thIETF-2007 in New Delhi on invitation of CII.• A 5-member delegation consisting of Minister of Mines & Energy and Ministerof Commerce, Industry & Crafts participated at the CII Conclave in Abidjanfrom August 1 – 2, 2007.• A 5-member delegation led by Minister of Petroleum of Chad, Mr. EmmanuelNadingar, attended the 3 rd India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference & Exhibitionheld in Delhi from November 6-7, 2007• The Chadian Trade & Industry Minister Mahamat Abdoulaye Mahamat metHon’ble MOS(AS) in July ,2008 in Dakar sought closer cooperation with Indiaand increased assistance under Team 9 and also broached the possibility ofthe visit by his President to India.• Chadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mahamat Bechir Okormi leda 7-member delegation to India from 4-8 September, 2010. Mr. YoussoufAbassalah, Minister of Commerce & Industry accompanied him. Thedelegation held discussions with MOS (PK), Smt. Preneet Kaur. ForeignOffice 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 FakiMahamat• Chadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mahamat Bechir Okormiparticipated in the LDCs Foreign Ministers’ Meet held in New Delhi inFebruary 2011.

• On May 10 2011, Shri Arun Yadav, Hon’ble MoS(Agriculture) paid a courtesycall on Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno in Ndjamena to deliver Hon’blePM’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 PMin Addis Ababa during India Africa Forum Submit (May 2011).• In connection with signing of an agreement for another GOI LoC of $ 40.32million, H.E. Mr. Mahamat Ali Hassan, Chadian Minister of Planning,Economy and International Cooperation visited New Delhi from January18-20,2012.4. Commercial and Trade Relations: India’s bilateral trade with Chad issmall and below the potential.India - Chad Bilateral Trade StatisticsValue in US $ millionCountry Indian Exports to Chad Indian Imports from Chad2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2007-2008-092009-102010-1108Chad 13.08 16.43 6.92 11.90(+72%)0.98 3.89 6.92 0.57(-92%)Main items of exportsMain items of imports(i) Gems and jewellery(i) Cotton(ii) Pharmaceutical products --(iii) Electrical Machinery --Source: DGFT, Ministry of CommerceThe latest DGCIS bilateral trade statistics show that during the period April-Sept2011 Indian exports to Chad have risen by 268.42% while imports have furtherdeclined. However, the total bilateral trade has increased by 242% as per detailsgiven below:(Apr-Sept 11, nearest USD Million)India’s Exports India’s imports Total Trade with % GrowthPartner Apr-Sept Apr-Sept11 Apr-Sept10 Apr-Sept11 Apr-Sept Apr-Sept 11country 10 (% growth)(% growth) 10 (% growth)Chad 4 16 (268%) 0.4 0.15(-61%) 4.7 16.1 (242%)5. India-Chad bilateral trade is low. However, evidence on ground suggestsconsiderable more presence of Indian goods, largely imported from Dubai.6. Air Connectivity: There are no direct air connections between India andChad. Airlines serving Chad include Air France, Ethiopian airlines and AfriqiyahAirways. There are at least two flights a week from Paris to Chad and severaltimes a week from Addis Ababa with connections to India.7. 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 underthe TEAM-9 initiative for 5 projects in Chad pertaining to: (a) Bicyclemanufacturing plant; (b) plant for manufacturing and assembly of agriculturaltractors, power tillers, trailers and implements; (c) steel billet plant and rollingmill; (d) cotton yarn plant, and (e) a fruit juice plant.

• Another GoI credit of $ 40.32 million will become operational after signing ofagreement on January 19, 2012.8. Indian Companies in Chad:• Some Indian private companies are in the process of starting ventures in thepharmaceutical, foodstuffs, restaurants, and edible oil, etc. sectors in Chad.Some of the Indian companies based in Nigeria and Tanzania are alsoexploring opportunities for investment in Chad.• Bharat Heavy Industries have supplied 331 Kilometres of pipes for the oilrefinery project.• A joint venture for setting up a mini-cement plant is under consideration.• Early in current decade, ONGC Videsh Limited considered an offer foracquisition of an exploration block in Chad but decided against it due toperceived political instability in the country.• M/s Vasudeva International has a 600 acres agriculture farm as a successfulpilot project.ITEC9. Till 2006-07, Chad was allotted 5 slots under ITEC. However after theIndia-Africa Forum Summit in 2008, the ITEC slots were increased to 7 and theutilisation was 100% during 2009-10. In the year 2010-11 the numbers of slotswere increased to 10 of these, 2 were utilised. Ms. Ihlam AlcherieAbakar recently became the first Chadian diplomat to participate in aProfessional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) in New Delhi in March- April2011. Following second Africa-India Forum Summit, Chad’s ITEC quota for 2011-12 has been further increased by 15 to 20 of these 4 have been utilised up toJanuary 16, 2012.Indian Community10. There are about 120 Indians working in oil refinery projects, internationalorganizations, missionaries, and engaged in foreign trade in Chad. India does nothave a resident diplomatic mission in Chad and our High Commission in Abujaacts as the non-resident Indian embassy for Chad.January 2012