African business leaders attending the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi have expressed strong confidence in India’s economic trajectory, citing development vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country’s expanding global partnerships as signs that the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ goal could be achieved earlier than planned.
At A Glance
- African business leaders at the BRICS summit praised India’s rapid economic progress under PM Modi.
- Nigerian and Ethiopian business leaders highlighted expanding India-Africa trade, investment and economic cooperation.
- They expressed confidence that India could achieve its ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision ahead of schedule.
Economic progress of the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn praise from African business leaders attending the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi.
They said India’s rapid development and expanding international partnerships could help the country realise its ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision ahead of schedule.
The assessment came from business and media representatives from Nigeria and Ethiopia who spoke to IANS during the summit.
Their comments also highlighted the growing economic links between India and African countries.
Nigeria Sees Scope for Stronger Economic Ties
Idehai Frederick, Chairman of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN), said India and Nigeria have maintained friendly relations for decades.
He noted that the relationship has developed beyond diplomatic engagement and includes significant economic and trade cooperation.
Frederick said he expected these ties to expand further in the coming years.
“India is the second-largest employer of workers after our government,” he said.
He also expressed confidence in the direction of India’s development under PM Modi.
According to Frederick, the Prime Minister has a broad vision for the country’s economic and overall development.
He said India could accomplish the objectives of the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision before the target year.
PM Modi’s Vision Visible Across Sectors
Frederick said the influence of PM Modi’s development vision could be seen in several aspects of India’s progress.
He pointed to the country’s development initiatives, policies and international partnerships.
He also cited India’s leadership of the BRICS grouping as another area where the country’s growing global role was visible.
His comments underline the importance of India’s expanding engagement with developing economies, particularly in Africa.
The BRICS platform has also emerged as an important setting for countries to strengthen economic and diplomatic cooperation.
Ethiopia Highlights India Partnership
Daniel Tiruneh, Founder and Managing Director of Abyssinia Business Network (ABN), also spoke about India’s longstanding relationship with Ethiopia.
He said the two countries have built cooperation in several areas.
These include trade, investment, innovation and education.
Tiruneh also referred to PM Modi’s visit to Ethiopia a few months ago.
He said the visit provided fresh momentum to bilateral relations and strengthened the scope for closer engagement between the two countries.
According to Tiruneh, the impact of the relationship could also be seen through BRICS.
“The impact is also visible in BRICS, which is an important platform for Ethiopia,” he said.
BRICS Brings India and African Partners Together
India is hosting the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi.
The grouping currently consists of 11 member countries and 10 partner countries.
Heads of state and representatives from participating countries have arrived in the Indian capital for the 2026 summit.
The gathering has placed India at the centre of discussions involving major emerging economies and partner nations.
For African business leaders, the summit also provides an important platform to assess opportunities for deeper economic engagement with India.
The comments from Nigerian and Ethiopian representatives reflect their positive assessment of India’s development trajectory and its expanding international role.
Tight Security Across New Delhi
The high-profile summit has also led to enhanced security arrangements across New Delhi.
Around 15,000 police personnel have been deployed for security duties.
Authorities have additionally deployed 200 companies of paramilitary forces across the capital.
The extensive security arrangements are in place as heads of state and representatives participate in the BRICS summit.
Against this backdrop, the praise from African business leaders adds an international dimension to the discussion around India’s economic growth.
Their remarks also point to the potential for stronger India-Africa trade and economic cooperation as India continues to expand its role within BRICS and the wider global economy. (Edited by Enewstime Desk)