India - Africa investment and trade promotion web portal
Student name: Ms Kaustubhi
Guide: Dr Sanpa Narula
Year of completion: 2011
Host Organisation: Ernst & Young Pvt. Ltd.
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Mohit Bhasin
Abstract: The project called “India-Africa Investment Gateway†is an investment and trade promotion web portal
planned, designed and delivered by Government Advisory Service of Ernst& Young, for its client, Invest
India, a joint venture between Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) - Ministry of Commerce
and Industry - Government of India, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
and Various State Governments. The objective of the web portal was to enhance trade and investments
in the African continent by Indian investors. It also aims at promoting foreign direct investments in India
from African countries.
The web based India-Africa investment portal contains requisite information required by an investor to
make investments in African countries. The three month project included deliverables such as
ï‚„ About Invest India
ï‚„ About Ministry of External Affairs
ï‚„ About Department of Industrial Policy& Promotion
ï‚„ Africa growth story
 India’s initiatives in Africa
ï‚„ Intelligent Matrices
ï‚„ E-newsletter
ï‚„ 53 African country profiles (including facts, market entry options, government initiatives for foreign
direct investments (FDI), tax structure, bilateral agreements, key players, major imports and key
sector opportunities in that country.
ï‚„ Key Indian sectors for investments
ï‚„ Key African sectors for investments
The above deliverables were prepared using information from embassies and high commissions of
African countries based in India, secondary research and Ernst & Young surveys and reports.
The entire study reflected untapped and unexplored markets of Africa that can be lucrative for potential
Indian investors. Africa is a continent rich in natural resources, minerals, oil, gas, tourism etc which can
be explored by India through investments in the form of joint ventures, franchising, and mergers and
acquisitions.
The major challenges faced by foreign companies in Africa are lack of governance, poor infrastructure,
corruption, poor law and regulatory framework and investment policies.
However African sectors such as telecommunications, mining, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas have the best
opportunities and immense scope of investments. Several governments are making initiatives to design
and implement investment codes, creating conducive business environment for foreign investors.
On the Indian side, many initiatives have been undertaken to create an enabling trade and business
environment in order to facilitate trade and investments in Africa. The main aim of such initiatives is to
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deepen the India-Africa strategic partnership to promote sustainable development between India and
Africa.
