By: Creamer media

DP World is a logistics and trade group controlled by the government of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Supported by India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of External Affairs, the new initiative promises to connect DP World’s ports, economic zones and logistics parks across India and Africa.

According to DP World, the platform will give Indian exporters access to 53 African countries and 260 000 points of sale through the DP World trade ecosystem.

DP World does not comment on whether the initiative will also work to boost Africa’s access to the Indian market.

The announcement on the new initiative was made during a UAE State visit to India, attended by the Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, DP World CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal.

DP World operates ten ports and terminals, three economic zones, and more than 200 warehouses across Africa.

The Bharat Africa Setu intends to integrate physical infrastructure with value-added services, ranging from export finance, marketing and branding, to packaging, logistics and certification services.

“Africa holds immense promise as a strategic trade partner for India,” says Goyal.

“To fully unlock this potential, it’s essential to strengthen connectivity, reduce trade bottlenecks, and empower Indian businesses to access and thrive in Africa’s dynamic markets.

“The Bharat Africa Setu is a concrete step in this direction. By leveraging private sector innovation and investment, we are committed to developing an efficient, future-ready trade corridor that facilitates seamless export flows between India and Africa, fostering prosperity and growth on both sides of the Arabian Sea.”

Africa currently imports around $430-billion worth of goods, with India accounting for 6.5% of that total, exporting $28-billion in goods to the continent.

With the Bharat Africa Setu initiative, that figure is expected to rise to 12% by 2030.

Again, DP World does not comment on exports from Africa to India and how this could potentially strengthen through this initiative.

“Africa has the potential to transform into a key player in the global economy, with trade and strategic partnerships serving as catalysts for the continent's growth and prosperity,” notes Sulayem.

“Our partnership with the government of India to establish the Bharat Africa Setu will open doors for Indian exporters to the vast opportunity in Africa by enhancing bilateral trade efficiency and improving market access.”

The launch of the Bharat Africa Setu coincides with the start of construction on Bharat Mart, a business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketplace in Dubai, which will serve as a one-stop export platform for Indian exporters.

Phase 1 is set to open by the end of 2026 and will feature light industrial units, office space and meeting facilities with dedicated space for women-led businesses from India.

Again, DP World does not mention if there will be space for African businesses in this facility.

The UK’s The Guardian newspaper reported at the end of last year that the UAE has become the largest backer of new business projects in Africa.

Between 2019 and 2023, Emirati companies announced $110-billion of projects, $72-billion of them in renewable energy, according to FT Locations, a data company owned by the Financial Times.

The pledges were more than double the value of those made by companies from the UK, France or China, which have pulled back from big-ticket infrastructure investment projects in Africa.

Dubai’s port and airline companies were some of the region’s first movers into Africa.