Indo-African Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IACCI) is a non-profit apex chamber that promotes trade and investment between India and African countries. Indo-African Chamber of Commerce & Industry was established in 1985 under the Companies Act, 1956 as a non-profit, industry-managed body. It is headquartered in Mumbai and works with businesses and institutions across India and all 54 African countries.
Indo African Chamber Of Commerce & Industry
The Indo-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IACCI) is a non-profit, industry-managed apex body established in 1985 under the Companies Act 1956, serving for over 40 years to promote trade and economic ties between India and 54 African countries. It acts as a catalyst for the historic India-Africa relationship, fostering industry growth through initiatives like “I For Afrika” and the Africa Trade Summit.
Basic Information
| Company Name | Indo African Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| CIN | U91110MH1985NPL035657 |
| Date of Incorporation | 18-03-1985 |
| Registered State | Maharashtra |
| Registrar of Companies (ROC) | RoC-Mumbai |
| Company Class | Public |
| Category | Company Limited by Guarantee |
| Sub Category | Non-Government company |
| Company Status | Active |
Key Objectives- Core Goals
- The Indo-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IACCI) focuses on creating networking platforms for businesses from India and 54 African countries to foster bilateral trade and partnerships. It showcases Indian capabilities, skill development, and intellectual resources while identifying commercial opportunities, assisting with feasibility studies, project financing, and joint ventures.
- IACCI promotes, coordinates, and protects commercial and industrial interests through dialogue with policymakers for pro-business regulations. The chamber builds capacities for SMEs via training, investor access, technology transfer, information exchange, and market entry support. It stimulates business excellence, ethics, and accountability among members while organizing conferences, workshops, and trade events.
Vision of IACCI
The vision of the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IACCI) is “Make Africa Your Partner.” This vision emphasizes strengthening the historic India-Africa relationship by ensuring smooth flows of trade, investment, joint ventures, technology transfer, and skill development between India and 54 African countries.
IACCI positions Africa as a key business opportunity for India, leveraging the Indian Ocean as a bridge and highlighting Africa’s young population, industrialization, and resource potential. It drives mutual cooperation through networking platforms, capacity building for SMEs, and policy advocacy to create pro-business environments. The approach fosters private sector-led partnerships in high-priority sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and IT.
Mission of IACCI
The mission of the Indo-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IACCI) centers on creating and sustaining an environment conducive to industry growth between India and 54 African countries.
- IACCI serves as a catalyst for the historic India-Africa relationship by identifying mutual cooperation areas, ensuring smooth trade, investment, joint ventures, technology transfer, and skill development flows. It builds networking platforms for businesses, showcases Indian capabilities, and supports SMEs through training, investor access, and market entry.
- The chamber promotes, coordinates, and protects commercial interests via policy dialogue, capacity building, and events like conferences and workshops. It fosters business excellence, ethics, and sustainability while addressing trade barriers through ties with over 100 African chambers.
Membership and Reach
The Indo-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IACCI) provides direct access to over 80,000 MSME companies from public and private sectors across India and Africa. Indirect membership exceeds 500,000 companies linked through 23 Indian states and regional associations.
Members gain visa recommendations, document attestation, discounts on events, and business matchmaking opportunities in Africa. The chamber offers networking platforms, trade consultancy, and support for market entry, project financing, and joint ventures. IACCI connects with businesses in all 54 African countries and collaborates with over 100 African chambers and trade organizations.
WHY AFRICA?
Africa offers immense business potential for India due to its 1.3 billion fast-growing, urbanizing population, ongoing industrialization, infrastructure development needs, expanding digital and mobile access, and vast agricultural and resource wealth.
- Key Attractions: The continent’s young demographic supports consumer-driven growth in sectors like pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, apparel, and automotive components, aligning with India’s expertise. Africa’s African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creates a unified market for Indian exports, while rich critical minerals like cobalt and lithium aid India’s green energy transition.
- Trade Potential: Bilateral trade hit $55.9 billion in 2020-21, with India as Africa’s 5th largest investor at $54 billion cumulatively; projections aim to double exports to $200 billion by 2030. Opportunities span SMEs (80% of African employment), renewable energy, logistics, and technology transfer, fostering mutual job creation and value chains.
Services offered by the Chamber
IACCI provides comprehensive hand-holding support and step-by-step guidance for members establishing business linkages across 54 African countries, including appointing liaison representatives in 10 countries and identifying genuine contacts.
- Financial and Project Aid: Members receive assistance in project finance (subject to guidelines and size), advisory services for execution and management, tender document support, and visa assistance for issuance and stamping.
- Event and Networking Perks: Benefits include excellent discounts on delegation fees, special seating at events and seminars, free 25 visa recommendation letters, free attestation of 100 export-import documents (certificates of origin, invoices, packing lists), and 25% discount on translation/interpretation in Arabic, French, Portuguese.
- Trade Promotion Services: IACCI offers circulation of importer/exporter lists from African countries, access to quality networking, information on exhibitions/seminars/trade fairs, buyer-seller meets in India and Africa, country-wise digital supplements, Africa business news circulars, sponsorship opportunities for events, issuance of certificates of origin, and advisory on export-import documentation.
Africa is young and biggest business opportunity for India
“Africa boasts the world’s youngest population, with a median age of 19.3 years, over 60% under 25, and 45% urban, fueling massive consumer demand and workforce growth for Indian businesses. By 2050, 40% of global children will be African, creating opportunities in education, healthcare, fintech, agri-tech, and textiles as urbanization doubles urban population to 1.4 billion. India-Africa trade hit record highs with $75+ billion cumulative investments; sectors like rice, apparel, solar, and IT thrive amid Africa’s digital boom and infrastructure needs. Projections target doubling to $200 billion by 2030 via SMEs, value chains, and youth skilling.”
How chamber helps in promoting Indo African trade
IACCI promotes Indo-African trade through targeted initiatives, networking, policy advocacy, and practical support services.
| Strategy | Details | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Opportunity Identification | Scouts commercial prospects and outsourcing projects across 54 African countries. | Feasibility studies, joint ventures facilitation. |
| Networking Platforms | Builds business linkages for MSMEs (80,000 direct, 500,000 indirect members). | Buyer-seller meets, “I For Afrika”, Africa Trade Summit. |
| Policy Advocacy | Dialogues with policymakers for favorable regulations and barrier removal. | Ties with 100+ African chambers. |
| Capacity Building | Enhances SME skills and market readiness. | Training, technology transfer, investor access. |
| Practical Support | Ensures seamless trade execution. | Document attestation, visa recommendations, tender assistance, contact verification. |