India Zambia Relations: Trade, Agreements, Recent Developments - UPSC Notes

India and Zambia maintain a robust relationship that spans cooperation in multiple sectors. Situated in the Southern Africa / Africa, Zambia plays a key role in international geopolitics and security. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1964, India and Zambia have cultivated a strong and evolving partnership. India and Zambia maintain a Resident High Commissions in Lusaka and New Delhi, operating embassies in each others capitals to strengthen diplomatic relations. India and Zambia have a Southern African partner, shared values, NAM, Commonwealth ties relationship, with defense ties, economic cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and joint security goals playing a central role. 

• India and Zambia work together in Trade, investment, health, agriculture, capacity building such as defense, nuclear energy, trade, space exploration, oil and gas, cybersecurity, culture, and education. 
• To enhance mutual cooperation, India and Zambia have formalized several agreements, particularly in the realm of Trade (1978), Cultural (1987), DTAA (2018), Space Cooperation (2023). 
• The bilateral trade between India and Zambia stands at USD 115 Billion (2022-23), reflecting increasing economic interdependence. 
• India’s trade with Zambia includes key exports like Pharmaceuticals, machinery, vehicles, plastics, electrical machinery, which form a large share of trade flows. 
• As part of their trade relationship, India mainly sources Copper, precious stones, cobalt, cotton, ores from Zambia. 

India works closely with Zambia in ITEC, scholarships, university collaboration, e-VBAB network to improve learning access and research opportunities. We’ve discussed Role of Diaspora, Cultural Linkages, and Recent Agreements Signed with India Zambia Relations, which are highly useful for GS Paper 2 and international affairs in PSIR. 

India Zambia Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Ties

Support for anti-colonial struggle, NAM, early diplomatic ties laid the foundation for the present-day relationship between India and Zambia. PM Indira Gandhi (1976, 1982), President Kaunda (multiple) stand out as milestones in the evolving diplomatic relationship between India and Zambia. 

• Diplomatic ties between India and Zambia have progressed via Post-independence solidarity, economic partnership, contemporary multifaceted ties.

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Strategic & Political Cooperation of India Zambia Relations

The Southern African partner, shared values, NAM, Commonwealth ties of India and Zambia cooperation includes mutual defense interests, economic partnerships, cultural engagement, and joint actions on global security issues. 

• Training slots (ITEC), goodwill visits, capacity building reflects the growing military collaboration between India and Zambia through joint training, arms trade, and naval support. 
• India leverages Cooperation via multilateral forums, information sharing efforts with Zambia to exchange intelligence, monitor threats, and safeguard national interests. 
• Through Emerging cooperation, focus on capacity building, India and Zambia have improved technological frameworks and strengthened cyber defense capabilities. 
• India’s participation in UN, NAM, Commonwealth, WTO, G77, SADC, COMESA enhances cooperation with Zambia and supports collective solutions to global problems. 
• Mining (copper), renewable energy exploration, capacity building with Zambia is crucial for India’s energy transition, focusing on sustainable resources and cleaner energy solutions. 
• India and Zambia have fostered a strong partnership in MoU signed (2023), earth observation, capacity building, focusing on joint research, technology exchange, and space exploration initiatives. 
• India and Zambia have joined hands in sectors like Air Services Agreement (2015), promoting tourism flows to encourage seamless connectivity and tourism collaboration. 
• Efforts like DTAA signed (2018), entered into force (2019) have helped India and Zambia establish stronger tax governance frameworks.

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Trade and Economic Overview of India Zambia Relations

• In order to deepen bilateral relations, India and Zambia have committed to agreements in key areas such as Trade (1978), Cultural (1987), DTAA (2018), Space Cooperation (2023). 
• India and Zambia maintain a trade volume of USD 115 Billion (2022-23), illustrating their growing economic partnership. 
• Investment flows encompass Indian FDI > USD 5bn, Zambian FDI negligible, backed by long-term investment commitments and joint collaborations. 
• Key platforms such as Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), Foreign Office Consultations are held regularly, either every year or two, to review and enhance bilateral trade and investment ties. 
• To bolster economic progress, India and Zambia have extended numerous Over USD 1 Billion for infrastructure, agriculture, health aimed at strengthening their financial partnership. 
• The export component from Zambia to India was valued at USD 86169 million (Zambia's exports to India, 2022-23). 
• India exports Pharmaceuticals, machinery, vehicles, plastics, electrical machinery to Zambia as part of their growing trade partnership and long-standing economic cooperation. 

The total value of goods imported by Zambia from India stood at USD 28554 million (Zambia's imports from India, 2022-23). Indian businesses active in Zambia include Vedanta, Tata, Airtel, Bajaj, Mahindra, L&T, SEZ, spanning manufacturing, IT, and services.

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement

Both India and Zambia benefit from the deep-rooted influence of their diaspora, enhancing Economic contribution, cultural bridge, goodwill ambassadors. Through ICCR scholarships, cultural troupes, Yoga, film festivals, India and the other country share traditions and build friendly relations. India is helping to improve education links with its partner country by doing things like ITEC, ICCR scholarships, e-VBAB network, university linkages. 

• In Zambia, a significant number of students and professionals, totaling around Approximately 30,000, professionals, businesspersons, long-term residents, contribute to strengthening cultural, educational, and economic ties. 
• With the use of LoCs, development aid (Hard), Culture, education, diaspora (Soft), India and Zambia aim to amplify their strategic positioning and exert greater influence on the global arena.
• India and Zambia have a deep connection, with Data limited, generally modest inward/outward flows being a key driver of economic growth for both nations.

India Zambia Relations Recent Developments

EAM Jaishankar (2023), Zambian Defence Minister (2023) reflect the importance both countries place on regular dialogue and strategic alignment. Although MoU in Space Cooperation (2023), MoU Broadcasting (2023), existing partnerships continue to guide cooperation between the two countries. 

• Various domains are being addressed under Infrastructure (roads, power), health, agriculture under LoCs, reflecting sustained collaboration. 
• Strategic cooperation is sometimes hindered by challenges like Trade imbalance (for India), logistical costs, Zambia's debt. 
• The bilateral agenda includes advancing Enhanced trade, mining, agriculture, health, green energy across innovation, trade, and diplomacy.

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UPSC Relevance of India Zambia Relations

• Key agreements, high-level visits, and organizations like SCO, BRICS, or UN involving Zambia are often tested in the prelims.
• Topics like defense ties, diaspora impact, or energy partnerships directly align with GS2 syllabus themes.
• Examples from the relationship highlight themes like ethical leadership, peaceful conflict resolution, or value-based foreign policy.
• For Anthropology or Sociology, diaspora dynamics offer relevant case material on migration and cultural integration.