Brief on India–Republic of Congo Relations
India-Republic of Congo Relations
India and the Republic of Congo [ROC] enjoy warm and friendly relations dating back to pre-independence era of the ROC. ROC has supported India’s candidature at various international forums. India opened its diplomatic Mission in Brazzaville, ROC, in November 2019.
In February 2023, the Republic of Congo joined the International Solar Alliance by signing the @isolaralliance Framework Agreement with their Ambassador in New Delhi.
Bilateral Visits/Meetings (including virtual)
From ROC to India
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1987: H.E. Mr Denis Sassou N'guesso, President of the Republic, in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union, visited India for the Creation of the African Fund
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July 2007: Mr Emile Ouosso, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation visited India at the invitation of Railway Minister. In his capacity as Chairman of the African Transport Ministers Group [53 countries], he mooted a proposal for holding a summit of African Transport Ministers in India
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27-29 March 2011: Mr Alain Akouala Atipault, Minister in the Presidency, in charge of Special Economic Zone participated in the 7th CII EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership held in New Delhi
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2013: Ms. Claudine Munari, Minister of Trade, Mr Alain Akouala Atipault, Minister of Special Economic Zones and Mr Anatole C. Makosso, Minister of Youth Affairs and Head of the African Union Commission for Youth Affairs visited India to attend 9th CII EXIM Bank Conclave in New Delhi.
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March 2014: Senior Minister of Industrial Development and Private Sector Promotion Mr Mvouba Isidore, Ms. Claudine Munari, Minister of Trade, Mr Alain Akouala Atipault, Minister of Special Economic Zones and Anatole Collinet Makosso, Minister of Youth visited India to attend 10th CII EXIM Bank Conclave in New Delhi.
March 2018 : Mr Rodrigue Ngonimba, Minister of Construction, Urbanism and Housing visited India to attend 13th CII EXIM Bank Conclave in New Delhi.
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October 2022 : Mr Raymond Zephirin MBOULOU, Minister of Security and Public Order, Republic of Congo headed the ROC delegation for the 90th INTERPOL General Assembly Session held in New Delhi from 18-21 October, 2022.
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January 2023 : Mr Denis Christel Sassou N’Guesso, Minister of International Cooperation and Promotion of Public-Private Partnership participated in the 9th Session on G-20 (Foreign Minister’s Session on G-20) virtually on 13th January 2023 which EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar chaired as part of Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS), convened by India as Head of G-20.
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February 2023 : Mr Charles Richard MONDJO, Minister of National Defence, Republic of Congo headed the ROC delegation for the conclave of Defence Ministers, 2023 Edition, held on the sidelines of AERO INDIA 2023, in Bengaluru, from February 12 – 16, 2023.
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June 2023 : Mr Thomas Nicephore FYLLA SAINT-EUDES, Minister of Industrial Development and Promotion of the Private Sector and Mr Jean Jacques Bouya, Minister of State for Territory Planning, Infrastructure and Road Maintenance, Republic of Congo participated in the 18th CII Africa Conclave on India Africa Growth Partnership, held in New Delhi from 14 – 16 June, 2023.
From India to ROC
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July 2015: Shri Manoj Sinha, MoS Railways visited Brazzaville as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to hand over invitation to Mr Denis Sassou N’guesso, President of Republic of Congo for 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi.
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March 2017: Shri M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs visited Brazzaville on first bilateral visit by any Indian Minister to ROC. MoS called on President of Republic of Congo and met Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Congolese Abroad.
Agreements/MoUs
Signed:
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Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.
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A Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations
India’s Economic assistance to ROC
Lines of Credit: Following Lines of Credit have been accorded to ROC: (i) US$ 70 million LOC for the Rural Electrification Project; (ii) LOC of US$ 89.9 million for the Development of an Urban Transportation System, in the capital city of Brazzaville and in Pointe Noire; (iii) LOC of US$ 55 million for a Greenfield 600 tpd rotary kiln based Cement Plant Project.
Grant/Assistance: (i) GOI donated medicines worth US$ 2,00,000 in 2010 to the Government of ROC; (ii) GOI donated US$ 500,000 as humanitarian assistance to ROC, in March 2012, in the aftermath of the ordnance depot blast, which claimed many lives; (iii) Tele-education, telemedicine and VVIP connectivity node have been set up in Brazzaville under the Pan African e-Network Project; (iv) GOI donated US $ 100,000 as humanitarian assistance for flood relief to the ROC in March, 2020; (v) GOI donated more than 6 tonnes of medical aid to ROC in June 2020 to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
Capacity Building Programme :
Trade and Commerce
Trade between India and ROC from April 2023 to February 2024: Bilateral trade stood at USD 282.59 million during FY 2023-24: export being USD 161.94 million and import USD 120.65 million. The main items of export were pharmaceutical products, inorganic chemicals, organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, vehicles and parts thereof, optical photographic cinematographic measuring, checking precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances while imports were Copper & articles thereof, mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, mineral waxes, natural or cultured pearls, precious or semiprecious stones, pre metals, iron and steel. Bilateral trade figures (in USD millions) over the last 10 years are given below:
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Year
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2013-14
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2014-15
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2015-16
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2016-17
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2017-18
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2018-19
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2019-20
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2020-21
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2021-22
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2022-23
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2023-24 (April-Feb)
|
|
Exports
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210.32
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252.89
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166.66
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135.82
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116.69
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132.88
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112.91
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109.84
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161.02
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178.49
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161.94
|
|
Imports
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89.53
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365.52
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201.64
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156.52
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198.81
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405.65
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587.50
|
245.94
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1309
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2026.19
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120.65
|
|
Total Trade
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299.85
|
618.41
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368.3
|
292.34
|
315.5
|
538.53
|
700.41
|
355.78
|
1470.02
|
2204.68
|
282.59
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Naming of Street in Brazzaville
On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on 02 October 2023, a prominent street in Brazzaville was named Mahatma Gandhi Marg. The street is approximately 1 kilometer long. The Embassy is working on to place a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the roundabout at the beginning of the street.
Cultural Activities
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All the important landmark dates and festivals are celebrated with vigour. Our Embassy in ROC organised several events to mark the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the 70th anniversary of the Constitution of India, Hindi Pakhwada, International Yoga Day, etc. The Mission also organized several activities under the framework of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) including the ‘Walk for Health’ event on 13th February 2022.
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International Yoga Days are celebrated with enthusiasm, featuring active participation from both the local community and the Indian diaspora.
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First time in the history of the Republic of Congo, a Gujarati Folk dance troupe KALAPATH SANSTHA from Bhavnagar (Gujarat), sponsored by ICCR, performed in Brazzaville on 28 January 2023. Their performance was wholeheartedly appreciated by members of the Diplomatic Corps, local Congolese and the members of the Indian diaspora. The Congo TV and the local print media ADIAC Congo covered the event.
Indian Diaspora
There are approximately 1000 Indians based in Republic of Congo, engaged mainly in trade and service sector including supermarket chains, electronic stores, tour and travels, restaurants, trading, etc.
The Indian community in capital city Brazzaville and port city Pointe Noire donated edible items including rice, wheat flour, cooking oil, sugar and cereals worth US$100,000 to local authorities in May, 2020 to support vulnerable families affected from pandemic COVID-19.
The Embassy in association with the Association of Indians in ROC organised a chartered flight on 10 July, 2020 from Brazzaville to Mumbai under the Vande Bharat Mission of GOI to evacuate 145 stranded Indian nationals to India.
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27 May 2024
