Diplomat Jaishankar extends congratulations to people of Chad celebrating their Nation's Independence Day
India and Chad maintain cordial relations characterized by goodwill and growing cooperation since 2011, marked by several high-level visits and engagements. Their partnership is strategically important due to Chad’s location in the Sahel region and its oil resources, with India notably active in energy cooperation including past involvement by ONGC Videsh in oil exploration.
High-level interactions and cooperation areas include:
- Defense and Security: India offers ITEC training slots to Chadian military personnel, and both countries share concerns on terrorism affecting the Sahel region, collaborating on counter-terrorism and intelligence.
- Technology and Education: India supports Chad through tele-education and tele-medicine initiatives under the e-VidyaBharati and e-AarogyaBharati projects, part of the broader e-VBAB Network Project.
- Economic Cooperation: Indian exports to Chad were valued at around USD 5,221 million in 2022-23, involving sectors like manufacturing, IT, and services. Indian businesses operate in Chad’s oil sector and other domains actively.
- Multilateral Engagements: Both countries are members of international platforms such as the UN, Non-Aligned Movement, the African Union, G5 Sahel, CEMAC, and OIC, reinforcing their multilateral cooperation.
Recent Aid and Support
In July 2020, during the Covid pandemic, India donated a 6-tonne consignment of essential medicines, including HCQS and antibiotics, to Chad. The medical consignment contained 2,300 kgs of essential lifesaving drugs and vaccines.
Moreover, in September 2024, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared an image of a medical aid sent by India to Chad. The handover was done by Ambassador of India Hifzur Rahman in the presence of senior officers of the Chadian Health Ministry and the Embassy of India. The medical consignment was handed over to Chadian Minister of Public Health and Prevention Abdelmadjid Abderahim in N'Djamena.
Cordial Relations and Mutual Goodwill
India enjoys great goodwill and admiration in the Republic of Chad. After the ISA Founding Conference in March 2018, India offered a Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 27.45 million for the establishment of a Solar PV Module Manufacturing Plant at N'Djamena.
Chad is a member of the TEAM-9 Initiative, an alliance of eight West and Central African countries aiming to benefit from technical and economic cooperation with India. High-level contacts and cooperation between India and Chad have increased since 2011, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs.
In conclusion, India-Chad relations have evolved into a multifaceted partnership featuring defense cooperation, economic trade, technology transfer, and shared security interests, underpinned by frequent high-level contacts and mutual goodwill.
- The partnership between India and Chad extends beyond defense and security cooperation, encompassing technology and education, such as the tele-education and tele-medicine initiatives under the e-VidyaBharati and e-AarogyaBharati projects.
- In line with their mutual respect and goodwill, India offers aid in times of need, exemplified by the donation of essential medicines during the Covid pandemic in 2020.
- Beyond bilateral partnership, India and Chad also collaborate in multilateral engagements, including membership in international platforms like the UN, Non-Aligned Movement, and the African Union, emphasizing their commitment to policy-and-legislation and politics at a global level.
