Ø India–Mali Bilateral Trade Surpasses US$326
Million in FY 2025–26, Registers 55 Per Cent Growth
Ø India and Mali Focus on Cotton, Mining,
Energy, Pharmaceuticals and Social Infrastructure to Deepen Bilateral Economic Engagement
Ø Mali Announces Investment Forum in December
2026
·
India and Mali held the first India–Mali
Forum for the Promotion of Exports in Bamako under the theme "Reinforcing
Trade and Strategic Partnerships."
·
The forum institutionalizes bilateral commercial engagement
and aims to deepen trade, investment, and strategic economic cooperation.
·
The event was chaired by Abdoulaye Maïga and jointly
organized by Mali's Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Embassy of India, and APEX-Mali.
·
India's delegation was led by Amit Kumar, with participation
from around 30 Indian business leaders.
·
Bilateral trade exceeded US$326.61 million in FY 2025–26, recording a
55% year-on-year growth.
·
Mali's key exports to India include:
o
Raw cotton
o
Finished leather
o
Cashew
o
Lead
o
Gum arabic
o
Sesame
·
India's major exports to Mali include:
o
Pharmaceuticals
o
Cotton fabrics
o
Two- and three-wheelers
o
Bicycles
·
India's Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme
has played a major role in boosting bilateral trade.
·
The forum featured:
o
Business-to-Business (B2B)
o
Business-to-Government (B2G)
o
Government-to-Government (G2G) meetings
focused on renewable energy, mining, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automotive manufacturing,
and other sectors.
·
Priority sectors identified for future cooperation include:
o
Cotton and textiles
o
Mining and energy
o
Agro-industry and shea processing
o
Pharmaceuticals
o
Health and education infrastructure
·
Mali requested India's assistance in:
o
Digitizing its Certificate of Origin system.
o
Fast-tracking registration of Indian pharmaceutical products.
·
India sought:
o
Reconsideration of Mali's shea-nut export ban.
o
Continued protection of Indian investments and nationals
in Mali.
·
Mali reaffirmed its commitment to becoming a regional
investment hub under Vision Mali 2063.
·
Mali announced a dedicated Investment Forum on 3–4 December
2026 to showcase new investment opportunities.
Key Takeaway
The inaugural India–Mali Export Forum marks a new phase
in bilateral economic engagement. With trade growing rapidly and both countries
prioritizing cooperation in sectors such as cotton, mining, energy, pharmaceuticals,
and infrastructure, the partnership is poised for significant expansion in trade
and investment.
[ABS News Service/04.07.2026]
In a significant step towards strengthening
bilateral economic ties, India and Mali institutionalised their growing commercial
partnership through the inaugural India–Mali Forum for the Promotion of Exports,
setting the stage for deeper trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
The two-day Forum, held in Bamako under
the theme "Reinforcing Trade and Strategic Partnerships", was presided
over by the Prime Minister of the Transition Government of Mali, H.E. Major General
Abdoulaye Maïga. It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade
of Mali, the Embassy of India in Bamako and the Malian Agency for the Promotion
of Exports (APEX-Mali). The Forum brought together senior officials from both governments
and around 30 Indian business leaders. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary
(FT-Africa), Department of Commerce, Government of India, Shri Amit Kumar. The Mission
was represented throughout by H.E. Dr. N. Nandakumar, Ambassador of India to Mali.
India and Mali have witnessed robust growth
in bilateral trade, which surpassed US$326.61 million in FY 2025–26, registering
a 55 per cent increase over the previous financial year. Mali's principal exports
to India include raw cotton, finished leather, cashew, lead, gum arabic and sesame, while India's major exports comprise pharmaceuticals,
cotton fabrics, two- and three-wheelers, and bicycles. India's Duty-Free Tariff
Preference (DFTP) Scheme has been the primary catalyst in strengthening bilateral
trade. Against Mali's global exports of approximately US$4 billion, untapped export
potential in the Indian market is estimated at nearly US$3.96 billion, signalling
substantial room for growth.
Following the inaugural session and a
visit to the Indian and Malian exhibition stands, featuring Sonalika tractors and
vehicles manufactured by Mahindra and Tata Motors, the delegations participated
in an intensive series of Business-to-Business (B2B), Business-to-Government (B2G)
and Government-to-Government (G2G) matchmaking meetings. The discussions covered
renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automotive manufacturing and mining,
with the objective of converting business opportunities into commercial partnerships
and Memorandums of Understanding.
On the second day, the Indian delegation
met the Minister of Industry and Trade of Mali, Mr. Moussa Alassane Diallo. APEX-Mali
also presented "Ready-Made Business Plans" for immediate investment opportunities.
The delegation later called on the Prime Minister of the Transition Government of
Mali.
Both sides identified cotton and textiles,
mining and energy, agro-industry and shea processing, pharmaceuticals, and social
infrastructure, including health and education, as priority sectors for expanding
bilateral cooperation. Mali expressed strong interest in India's support for digitising
its Certificate of Origin system and in the prompt registration of approved Indian
pharmaceutical products. The Indian side sought reconsideration of the shea-nut
export ban and reaffirmed the importance of protecting Indian nationals and investments.
The Forum was framed as the foundation
of a long-term partnership. It concluded with Mali reaffirming its commitment to
securing the business environment and positioning itself as a strategic investment
hub for West Africa under its Vision Mali 2063 roadmap. As a concrete next step,
Mali announced a dedicated investment forum to be held on 3–4 December 2026, at
which additional bankable projects will be made available to international investors.