In 2025, the Republic of Mozambique and the Republic of India mark the golden jubilee of their diplomatic relationship—a significant milestone that reflects five decades of friendship, cooperation, and strategic alignment. This enduring partnership, which formally began with the establishment of diplomatic ties shortly after Mozambique’s independence in 1975, has since evolved into a multifaceted relationship encompassing political, economic, defence, cultural, and developmental cooperation.
The foundation of Mozambique–India relations is deeply embedded in mutual aspirations for national development and a broader commitment to the principles of South-South cooperation. India’s support for Mozambique’s liberation movement and its early recognition of Mozambican sovereignty established a spirit of solidarity and trust between the two nations. Over the years, this relationship has matured, characterised by consistent high-level political engagements, expanding trade and investment flows, defence cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
India’s emergence as a global economic and technological power, coupled with Mozambique’s strategic location in south-eastern Africa and its vast natural resources, has created avenues for complementary cooperation. In recent years, initiatives such as the India–Africa Forum Summit and India’s enhanced outreach to the African continent have further invigorated relations with Mozambique, placing it as a key partner in New Delhi’s Africa policy.
Historical Foundations of Mozambique-India Relations
Mozambique achieved independence on June 25, 1975. India was among the very first countries to recognise the newly sovereign nation. In a clear demonstration of its commitment to fostering a strong partnership, India swiftly established full diplomatic relations with Mozambique and inaugurated a High Commission in Maputo. This timely gesture underscored India’s intention to play a constructive role in the post-independence reconstruction and development of Mozambique. Mozambique opened its Mission in New Delhi in 2001.
During the early years of Mozambique’s independence period, India extended developmental assistance, technical training programmes, and educational scholarships to Mozambican students. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme became a vital tool for capacity-building, offering opportunities for Mozambican professionals to gain training in various sectors in India.
Political Engagements and High-Level Visits
Political engagements and high-level diplomatic exchanges, often accompanied by strategic dialogues and cooperation agreements, reflect the mutual commitment of both nations to deepen their partnership across political, economic, and developmental dimensions. Mozambique has consistently valued its ties with India, as evidenced by the multiple state visits by its top leaders. President Samora Machel, the founding father and the first President of independent Mozambique, made a historic visit to India in 1982. His visit was symbolic of the close political and ideological alignment between the two countries, both of which had emerged from colonial rule and shared similar visions of inclusive development and South-South cooperation. Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano visited India twice during his tenure, in 1988 and 2003. His second visit in 2003 marked a new phase in bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and capacity-building. Later, in 2010, the then President Armando Guebuza visited India to enhance economic and developmental cooperation. This visit emphasised areas such as energy security, agriculture, and Indian private sector investments in Mozambique’s emerging industries, leading to the signing of several Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs). In 2015, the then President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi reaffirmed the long-standing friendship with India during his visit, which focused on collaboration in the energy, agriculture, and education sectors and promoted Indian investment in Mozambique’s burgeoning natural gas and mining industries. During this visit, both sides expressed a shared interest in expanding cooperation in capacity-building, skill development, and infrastructure.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mozambique in 2016 marked a renewed momentum in bilateral relations. His visit resulted in several key agreements that addressed both strategic and practical areas of cooperation. Notable among these were agreements on combating drug trafficking and illicit trade in psychotropic substances, cooperation in youth affairs and sports to encourage cultural exchange, and a long-term pact on the trade of pulses. Further strengthening the relationship, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Mozambique in April 2023. A major highlight of the visit was the inauguration of the Buzi Bridge, a key component of the Tica-Buzi-Nova Sofala road corridor project, funded through Indian concessional credit. This project represents India’s growing role in Mozambique’s infrastructure development and its commitment to building climate-resilient, inclusive growth models in Africa.
Bilateral Trade Dynamics
Bilateral trade between Mozambique-India has shown consistent growth, reaching approximately USD 4 billion in recent years. This growth has been driven by diversified exchanges in goods and services, alongside increased investment flows. India’s exports to Mozambique include pharmaceuticals, machinery, automobiles, electrical equipment, and refined petroleum products. Particularly, Indian generic medicines play a critical role in strengthening Mozambique’s healthcare sector by providing affordable and quality healthcare solutions.
On the import side, India imports commodities such as raw cashew nuts, coal, natural gas, pulses, titanium ore, and other agricultural and mineral resources. A long-term import agreement signed in 2016 for pulses has also contributed to stabilising prices in Indian markets while offering Mozambican farmers a consistent and reliable export destination.
A cornerstone of the bilateral economic relationship lies in the energy and natural resources sector. Indian public sector undertakings such as ONGC Videsh Ltd., Oil India Ltd. (OIL), and Bharat PetroResources Ltd. (BPRL) collectively hold a 30% stake in the Rovuma Offshore Area 1 gas field in northern Mozambique—one of the largest gas discoveries globally in recent years.
India has extended over USD 772 million in Lines of Credit (LoCs) to Mozambique, funding infrastructure and development projects such as solar electrification, rural water supply systems, agriculture mechanisation, and hospital construction. One notable project includes the establishment of an Information Technology Park and a solar panelassembly plant near Maputo, intended to enhance Mozambique’s technological capabilities and green energy capacity.
Capacity-building remains integral to India’s development cooperation strategy. Through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, hundreds of Mozambican professionals are trained annually in diverse sectors like ICT, banking, agriculture, and public administration. These efforts enhance Mozambique’s institutional capacities and foster stronger bilateral ties through human resource development.
Defence and Security Collaboration
Recognising Mozambique’s geostrategic position along the Indian Ocean, India has prioritised the strengthening of naval capabilities to combat piracy, smuggling, and other transnational maritime threats. One significant contribution includes the provision of Fast Interceptor Boats to the Mozambican Navy, which has notably improved the country’s coastal surveillance and rapid response capabilities.
In July 2019, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid an official visit to Mozambique—the first-ever such visit by an Indian Defence Minister. During the visit, both countries signed an MoU focusing on the sharing of white shipping information, which pertains to the exchange of non-military maritime data between navies to enhance maritime domain awareness. This agreement exemplifies the growing strategic trust and shared commitment to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
The partnership extends to regular joint naval exercises and training programmes, which aim to increase interoperability and strengthen institutional frameworks in maritime defence. For example, the second edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT 2024) took place from March 21 to March 28, 2024, in Nacala, Mozambique. The exercise included intensive training sessions such as Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS), damage control, fire-fighting drills, and medical procedures.
Cultural and People-to-People Ties
Cultural and people-to-people ties form a vital pillar of the longstanding relationship between Mozambique-India. Approximately 20,000 Mozambican nationals trace their ancestry to India, predominantly from the western Indian regions of Gujarat, Goa, Daman, and Diu. Many members of this diaspora are engaged in trade, manufacturing, hospitality, and other key sectors of the Mozambican economy, thereby contributing meaningfully to the nation’s development.
The Indian community in Mozambique not only serves as a socio-economic bridge but also acts as a conduit for cultural exchange and mutual appreciation. Events such as the celebration of International Day of Yoga have gained popularity in Mozambique, with annual participation from both the Indian diaspora and local Mozambicans. In addition to yoga, India has regularly sent cultural troupes, including classical dance and music performers, to Mozambique under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) outreach programmes. These performances, often hosted at prominent venues in Maputo and other cities, showcase the richness of India’s artistic heritage and foster intercultural understanding. Such initiatives celebrate Indian culture and encourage cultural dialogue and appreciation between the peoples of both countries.
Conclusion
The Mozambique–India relationship, grounded in shared historical ties, anti-colonial solidarity, and deep-rooted cultural affinities, has matured into a dynamic and multidimensional partnership over the past five decades. The agriculture sector in Mozambique offers vast, arable land and favourable climatic conditions. Similarly, fisheries and aquaculture present a promising avenue. Another critical frontier is renewable energy. Mozambique possesses high solar and hydropower potential, and India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance positions it as a valuable partner in energy transition efforts.
The partnership has grown to reflect the strategic needs of both countries—India’s aspiration to be a reliable partner in Africa and Mozambique’s goal to diversify its international partnerships while enhancing national development.
