What is the value of India-Chad trade?

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, trade was USD 513.59 million in 2018-19, driven mainly by crude oil imports. For April to November 2024-25 it was US$ 61.73 million, with Indian exports of 46.16 million and imports of 15.57 million.

Which Indian company is the largest investor in Chad?

The brief states that Airtel acquired Zain Telecom, Chad's biggest network, for US$ 1 billion in June 2010, and has invested an additional US$ 400 million since 2014.

Has the CII sent a business delegation to Chad?

Yes. The CII led an 8-member business delegation to N'Djamena from 24-27 September 2024, which the brief describes as the first-ever visit by a CII delegation to Chad.

Trade and investment between India and Chad

This article covers trade and investment between India and Chad: the regional framework for cooperation, bilateral trade figures by financial year, Indian investment in Chad, and business delegations and conclaves. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of April 2026, and figures are as given in that brief.

Regional framework

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, Chad is a member of the TEAM-9 Initiative (Techno-Economic Approach for African Movement), comprising eight West and Central African countries seeking to benefit in technical and economic spheres through cooperation with India. The brief states that there is considerable untapped potential for cooperation in hydrocarbons, mining, agriculture, health and infrastructure.

Trade figures

The brief states that India's direct bilateral trade with Chad has surged from a small base in the past few years but remains much below potential. In 2018-19, bilateral trade was USD 513.59 million, and the brief attributes this mainly to increased imports of crude oil. After a sharp decline during the Corona pandemic, trade has grown gradually since 2022-23.

The brief gives the following figures in US$ million, sourced from the Department of Commerce, Government of India. Each line shows India's imports, India's exports and total trade.

2018-19: imports 476.13, exports 37.46, total 513.59
2019-20: imports 270.75, exports 58.69, total 329.44
2020-21: imports 50.00, exports 59.23, total 109.23
2021-22: imports 3.00, exports 52.94, total 55.94
2022-23: imports 6.01, exports 52.21, total 58.22
2023-24: imports 3.64, exports 79.84, total 83.48
2024-25 (April to November): imports 15.57, exports 46.16, total 61.73

The figures for 2024-25 cover only the months from April to November, so they are not comparable with the full years above.

Indian investment in Chad

The brief states that Indian economic presence in Chad received a boost through Airtel's US$ 1 billion acquisition of Zain Telecom, Chad's biggest network, in June 2010. Airtel has invested an additional US$ 400 million since 2014 to expand its network in the country and improve its quality.

Some Indian private companies are in the process of starting ventures in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, restaurants and edible oil. Several Indian companies based in Nigeria and Tanzania are also exploring investment opportunities in Chad.

The brief records that Bharat Heavy Industries supplied 331 Kilometres of pipes for the oil refinery project, and that a delegation from BHEL visited Chad in August 2018 to explore project exports.

Business delegations to Chad

A high-level Indian business delegation of 7 companies, representing the energy, mines, pharmaceutical, telecommunications and IT, tourism, infrastructure and defence sectors, visited N'Djamena on 7-11 December 2015. The delegation met the Chadian Prime Minister, the Ministers of Commerce, Telecommunications, Agriculture, Civil Aviation, Defence and Infrastructure, and the Chamber of Commerce and Chadian businessmen.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) led an 8-member business delegation to N'Djamena from 24-27 September 2024. The brief describes this as the first-ever visit by a CII delegation to Chad. The Indian Mission organised a B2B meeting on 25 September, attended by over 50 Chadian business leaders and industrialists. Its inaugural session was addressed by the Ambassador of India, the Minister of Commerce & Industry, the Director General of the National Agency for Investment & Export and the leader of the CII delegation.

On September 26, the Mission arranged separate meetings for the delegation with the Deputy Prime Minister; the Ministers of Health, Commerce & Industry, Petroleum, and Mines & Geology; the Minister of State for Infrastructure Development; and the Deputy Ministers of Telecommunications, Higher Education, and Water & Energy.

Chadian participation in business conclaves in India

The brief describes Chadian participation in the CII-India Africa Business Conclaves as encouraging. Commerce and Industry Minister Mr. Guibolo Fanga Mathieu attended the 19th CII India-Africa Conclave in New Delhi from 20-22 August 2024, with a 5-member official delegation and a 20-member business delegation. He addressed one of the sessions and met Minister of State (Commerce & Industry) Shri Jitin Prasada on 20 August 2024.