New Delhi, March 21: India and Africa, representing nearly one-third of the global population, are aligning on a shared vision of inclusive, equitable, and future-ready development, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said at the India-Africa Strategic Partnership Meet during the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026.
Highlighting the central role of power in economic growth and social progress, the minister outlined key cooperation areas including renewable energy, grid modernisation, energy storage, system flexibility, and institutional capacity building. He also pointed to the ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ initiative as a transformative framework for global energy connectivity.
Reinforcing the commitment to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy access, Khattar cited ongoing collaboration between Africa50 and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, including transmission projects in Kenya, as examples of successful public-private partnerships backed by innovative financing and technical expertise.
The minister also reaffirmed India’s engagement through global platforms such as the International Solar Alliance, positioning India-Africa cooperation as “transformational” and rooted in co-creation rather than transactional engagement.
The meeting concluded with both sides committing to deeper collaboration across renewable energy expansion, interconnected grid systems, advanced storage solutions, and institutional strengthening.
Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik stressed the need to translate intent into action, underscoring energy access as a foundation for inclusive growth and long-term development.
Meanwhile, Nayab Singh Saini highlighted sustainable governance practices, particularly in irrigation water management, as critical to regional progress.
From an investment standpoint, Alain Ebobisse emphasised Africa’s shift towards attracting impact-driven investments rather than aid, with a focus on bankable projects, transmission expansion, and mobilisation of private capital through integrated planning frameworks.
