The third India-Africa Forum Summit that began on Monday was preceded by an India-Africa trade ministers' meeting. It was touted by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as an occasion for trade ministers of African nations to meet India's commerce and industry minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. After the meeting, which took place behind closed doors, a press briefing was held under the aegis of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The event turned out to be a damp squib, with only one trade minister - Zimbabwe's industry and commerce minister, Mike Bimha - and the Commissioner for Trade and Industry, African Union Commission, Fatima Haram Acyl, addressing the media. The Indian side was represented by Sitharaman, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Amitabh Kant, Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia and Bharti Enterprises Vice-Chairman Rajan Bharti Mittal. Where were the other trade ministers from Africa?
