India and Mali have launched the inaugural India–Mali Forum for the Promotion of Exports, creating a new platform to expand trade, investment and business partnerships between the two countries. The two-day forum in Bamako brought together government officials and around 30 Indian business leaders to explore opportunities in sectors ranging from manufacturing to energy and pharmaceuticals.
Growing Trade Relationship
The forum comes at a time when bilateral trade is rising sharply. Trade between India and Mali crossed US$326.61 million in FY 2025-26, up 55% from the previous year, showing that commercial ties are gaining momentum.
Mali’s exports to India include raw cotton, finished leather, cashew, lead, gum arabic and sesame, while India exports pharmaceuticals, cotton fabrics, bicycles and two- and three-wheelers to Mali. Officials said India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme has also helped support this growth.
Business And Investment Focus
The forum was designed not just for trade promotion, but also for investment matchmaking. It included B2B, B2G and G2G meetings focused on renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automotive manufacturing and mining.
Delegates also visited exhibition stands displaying products and technologies from both sides, including tractors and vehicles from Indian manufacturers. On the second day, the Indian delegation met Mali’s Industry and Trade Minister and later held discussions with the Prime Minister of the Transition Government of Mali.
Sectors With Potential
Both countries identified cotton and textiles, mining and energy, agro-industry and shea processing, pharmaceuticals, and social infrastructure such as health and education as priority areas for future collaboration. Mali also expressed interest in India’s help with digitising its Certificate of Origin system and speeding up registration of approved Indian pharmaceutical products.
India, meanwhile, asked Mali to reconsider its shea-nut export ban and stressed the need to ensure the safety of Indian nationals and investments in the country. The discussions suggest that the relationship is moving from trade promotion toward a broader economic partnership.
Next Steps
Mali has announced that it will host a dedicated investment forum on 3-4 December 2026, where additional bankable projects will be presented to international investors. That follow-up event is expected to give the two countries another chance to turn dialogue into concrete commercial deals.
For Indian businesses, the forum signals a growing opening in West Africa. For Mali, it is a step toward positioning itself as a more visible investment destination under its Vision Mali 2063 roadmap.