EMBASSY OF INDIA

BAMAKO, MALI

Embassy of India
Bamako
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Brief on India - Mali Bilateral Relations

Political Relations: 

India and Mali have traditionally maintained friendly relations based on shared values, mutual trust and goodwill. The two countries do not have any geopolitical conflicts. The Government of India established its Embassy in Bamako in May 2009. Mali followed soon by opening its Embassy in New Delhi in August 2009. During the political and security crisis in Mali consequent upon a military coup in March 2012, India strongly supported efforts for restoration of constitutional order in Mali and preservation of its unity and territorial integrity. India has consistently opposed colonialism and liberally extended developmental assistance under various schemes to Mali over the years. Mali too has been supportive of India on various international issues. The Government of Mali acknowledges India’s contribution and looks forward to further strengthen its relationship with India. Both the countries recognize terrorism as a grave threat to peace and prosperity and agree to cooperate at bilateral, regional and multilateral level to combat this menace in it all forms and manifestations. 

High Level Visits from Mali to India:

2. The then president of Mali, Prof. Alpha Oumar Konare, paid a state visit to India on 28-30 August 1995. Being the first democratically elected president of Mali to visit India, this visit opened a new chapter in the bilateral relations. Subsequently in December 2006, his visit to India in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union had laid the foundation for India-Africa engagement under the framework of India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS).   

3. In January 2012, the then president of Mali, Mr. Amadou Toumani Touré, paid a state visit to India. President Touré was accompanied by First Lady Madame Toure Lobbo Traore and a high-level Ministerial and business delegation. India and Mali signed a MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Geology and Mineral Resources during the visit. 

3rd India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS): 

4. The then President of Mali Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta visited India to participate in the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit at New Delhi, in October 2015. President Keita was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, other Ministers and senior officials.

International Solar Alliance (ISA): 

5, Mali signed and ratified the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement on 2 October 2017. At the joint invitation of Prime Minister Modi and French President Macron, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta visited India in March 2018 to participate in the Founding Conference of International Solar Alliance (ISA) at New Delhi. President Keita was accompanied by a high-level delegation.

Ministerial visits from Mali to India:

6. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali Mr. Lassana Traore visited India in March 2004 for inaugural meeting of TEAM-9. He again undertook a major bilateral visit to India in October 2009 leading to establishment of bilateral political consultation mechanisms viz., Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). A list of other major ministerial visits from Mali to India are presented below. 

High level visits from India to Mali:

7. Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Hamid Ansari (HVPI), accompanied by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs and three Members of Parliament, paid a high level visit to Mali on 29 – 30 September 2016. During the visit, HVPI called on President of Mali, had restricted and delegation level meetings with the Prime Minister of Mali, addressed the National Assembly and interacted with the Indian community in Bamako.

Other high level visits from India to Mali:

8. A list of other high level visits from India to Mali is presented below. 

Other high level engagements:

9. On 25 April 2020, External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar and the then Foreign Minister of Mali Mr. Tiébilé Dramé held telephonic conversation to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations, including India’s support to Mali during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, Government of India donated 5871.7 kg of life saving medicines to the Republic of Mali in two consignments on 19th May 2020 and 10th June 2020. First batch of the medicines were received by the Minister of Health & Social Affairs of Mali Mr. Michel Sidibe, on 19 May 2020. The second batch of life-saving medicines and healthcare accessories were handed over to Secretary General of the Ministry of Health & Social Affairs of Mali, Dr. Mama Coumaré, on 10 June 2020. Apart from this, the Government of India also supplied 396,000 units of Covid-19 vaccines to the Republic of Mali under COVAX facility on 3rd March 2021. 

10. On 15th October 2025, Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh met Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali Mr. Abdoulaye Diop on the sidelines of the 19th Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda. During the meeting, the two Ministers reviewed the entire gamut of the multifaceted relations between India and Mali and shared commitment to further strengthening the traditionally friendly ties between the two countries.

Foreign Office Consultations (FOC):

11. India and Mali held 1st FOC on 04th November 2019 in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Shri T.S. Tirumurti, Secretary (Economy Relations), while the Malian side was headed by Mr. Boubacar Gouro Diall, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Both countries reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations including political relations, trade, development cooperation etc., and shared perspectives on regional and multilateral issues.

Joint Commission Meeting (JCM):

12. The first-ever India-Mali JCM was held in Bamako on 02-03 March, 2017. The then Minister of State for External Affairs Shri M. J. Akbar, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, co-chaired the sessions that covered bilateral political ties, economic cooperation, development partnership, the threat of terrorism for peace and security, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

Bilateral Agreements: 

13. A list of bilateral agreements singed between the two countries till date is presented below. 

Economic and commercial relations:

14. India is among the top trading partners of Mali. Mali is a least developed country (LDC), heavily reliant on external aid. Therefore, India has extended Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme to Mali providing duty free/preferential market access on about 98.2% of India’s tariff lines (at HS 6-digit level of classification). According to the available statistics, total bilateral trade between the two countries for the last five years is as follows:

(Figures in Million USD)

(Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India)

15. India’s major exports to Mali include engineering goods, pharmaceutical products, cotton textiles and made-ups, woven fabric, rice, tea, coffee, confectionery, bicycle and motorcycle parts and accessories thereof, household articles, sewing machines, etc. Major items imported by India from Mali include raw cotton, gum arabic, other natural gums, hides and skins, raw cashew nuts etc. 

16. Mali can make immense use of Indian expertise in sectors such as power, communications, IT, education, mining, agriculture, automobile and pharmaceuticals. Mali has a liberal and friendly investment and trade policy. For Indian investors, investment opportunities exist in the field of agriculture (cotton, food processing, abattoirs and tanneries), automobiles (two-wheeler segment), mining and pharmaceuticals (generic drugs), Infrastructure development etc.

CII Business Delegation to Mali (October 2025):

17. A business delegation, led by the CII in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India, Bamako, visited Mali from October 6–7, 2025. The visit featured a India-Mali Business Forum. During the visit, the delegation called on the Minister of State, Minister of Economy and Finance of Mali, Mr. Alousséni Sanou and also held productive meetings with APEX-Mali (Agency for Promotion of Exports-Mali) and API-Mali (Investment Promotion Agency of Mali). 

Mali–India Forum for the Promotion of Exports (June 19-20, 2026):

18. Mali hosted the 1st India-Mali Forum For Promotion of Exports on 19-20 June 2026 at Radisson Collection Hotel, Bamako. A high level delegation headed by Shri Amit Kumar, Joint Secretary (FT-Africa), Department of Commerce, GoI along with a large business delegation participated in the Forum. The Forum was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Mali Maj. Gen. Abdoulaye Maïga. The two-day event featured presentations on trade and investment landscape of the two countries, B2B and B2G meetings as well as exhibition pavilions of Indian and Malian companies showcasing major products of the bilateral trade basket. 

Development partnership:

19. India has been a close development partner of Mali. India extends development assistance to Mali in the form of concessional Lines of Credit (LOC), grant assistance and capacity building training under the framework of Indian Technical and Economic cooperation (ITEC) scheme. India and Mali are founding members of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and India has also been extending assistance to Mail under the framework of ISA.

Lines of credit:

20. India has extended seven Lines of Credit (LOCs) worth around US$ 303.6 million to Mali for various projects. The projects implemented are :- 

(i)  Rural electrification and setting up of agro machinery and tractor assembly plant in Mali (2005)

(ii)  Acquisition of railway coaches and locomotives from India (2005)

(iii)  Electricity transmission and distribution project from Ivory Coast to Mali (2007)

(iv)  Second Electricity transmission & distribution project from Ivory Coast to Mali (2007)

(v)  Mali-Ivory Coast interconnection link or integrating the national power grids of the two countries (2009)

(vi)  Agriculture and food processing projects (2009)

(vii)  Construction of a 225 kV double circuit power transmission line connecting Bamako and Sikasso via Bougouni (2011).

21. Among the seven LoC projects referred above, six projects have been successfully implemented. The US$ 150 million power transmission project connecting Bamako and Sikasso via Bougouni is currently under implementation. This project involves;

(i) turnkey construction of 225 kV double circuit transmission line between Bamako and Sikasso via Bougouni (395 Kms), 

(ii) Construction / extension of five power substations in Sikasso, Bougouni, Sanankoroba, Kodialani and Dialakorobogou, and 

(iii) Providing electric connectivity to seven localities along Sikasso-Bamako. 

The US$ 150 million LoC allocated for this project is extended both bilaterally (US$ 100 million) and through the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) (US$ 50 million). This project is in its final stages and is expected to be completed soon.

LOCs extended under International Solar Alliance:

22. During ISA Founding Conference held in New Delhi in March 2018, three solar projects were selected for financing under LOC - two on bilateral basis and one through EBID. These are as follows:

(I) Setting up a sustainable village and use of solar photo voltaic technology for irrigation of 2500 ha of agricultural land at the value of US$ 22 million.

(ii) Construction of a 50 MW Solar Photo-Voltaic Power Plant in Fana at the value of US$ 60.65 million.

(iii) Construction of 2 MW Solar Photovoltaic plants in Mopti (EBID) - US$ 8 million

(The LOC for projects at S.No. 1 & 2 offered by the GoI is under consideration by the Government of Mali.)

Grant assistance:

23. From time to time, India has also been extending grant assistance to Mali in the form of equipment, medical devices, assistance for revival of world heritage sites etc., as explained below:

• Cash assistance of US$ 500,000 towards revival of world heritage site of Timbuktu - this was announced during the visit of Hon'ble Vice President of India to Mali on September 29-30, 2015. The donation cheque was handed over to the Minister of Culture of Mali on 2 March 2017 by Shri M.J. Akbar, Hon'ble Minister of State for External Affairs during his visit to Mali.

• Gifting of IT Equipment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFA) of Mali worth CFA 10,036,500 - this was announced during the visit of Hon'ble Vice President of India to Mali on September 29-30, 2015. These equipment were handed over to MOFA on 14 April 2017.

• Grant assistance of CFA 8,772,251 for procurement of scanning equipment for digitization of documents of the African House of Photography, Bamako under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of Mali. The equipment was handed over to the Government of Mali in November 2020.

• Grant assistance of CFA 2,806,500 for procurement of basic equipment in the field of obstetrics for a newly built Community Health Centre in Missirikoro, Sikasso, Mali. Equipment was handed over in December 2020.

• Gifting of motorcycles, desktop computers, laptops & printers to the National Police School on 02nd October, 2023.

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme:

24. India offers training in human resource development to Mali under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Initially 60 ITEC slots were offered to Mali, which were subsequently enhanced to 70 slots. About 306 officials and Malian nationals from private sector have been trained under the ITEC during the last 8 years including Malian defence and police personnel. 

ITEC-Defence:

25. Malian defence personnel has been regularly availing training slots offered by the Ministry of Defence, GoI under the ITEC-Defence. 

Scholarships offered by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR):

26. Under India – Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme, administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), 20 slots have been offered to Malian nationals for the FY 2026-27 for pursuing undergraduate / Post graduate / Ph.D programmes in arts, basic sciences, engineering and other technical fields. ICCR scholarships are very popular and had attracted large number of Malian students leading to full utilization of the available slots. More than 100 Malian students have benefited from ICCR scholarships so far.

Other Scholarships offered:

27. Apart from ICCR Scholarships, GoI also extends scholarships to Malian nationals for pursuing higher education in Indian academic institutions under the following schemes. 

i.  Under various initiatives of the India-Africa Forum Summits

ii.  Agricultural scholarships administered through the African Union (AU)

iii. C. V. Raman Fellowship Scheme: 8 slots offered to Mali, 2 have already been availed

iv. 02 Malian military officers participated in the training programme conducted by the Centre for UN Peacekeeping in Delhi (2012)

e -Vidya Bharati and e - Aarogya Bharati (e - VBAB) project:

28. Mali has been offered the e-VidyaBharati and e-AarogyaBharati (e-VBAB) Network Project to provide free tele-education courses in various academic disciplines and free Continuing Medical Education (CME) to doctors/nurses/para-medical staff including free medical consultancy. A MoU between Mali and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited [TCIL] was signed on 04 November 2019 in New Delhi for Mali’s participation in this project. 52 students from Mali have enrolled in various courses till July 2023 academic session under e-VBAB.

Bilateral cultural exchanges:

29. India and Mali signed a bilateral Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) in September 2016 during the visit of the Hon’ble Vice President of India to Bamako. In March 2017, India donated US$ 0.5 million for the reconstruction of the world heritage sites of Timbuktu which was announced by HVPI during his visit to Mali in September, 2016. An Exhibition hosting Timbuktu manuscripts “Taj Mahal meets Timbuktu” was held at National Museum, New Delhi from 14 May – 6 June, 2018.

Visit of Malian cultural delegation to India:

30. A two member cultural delegation visited India during the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) in October, 2015 for a musical performance and received great appreciation. Mali’s celebrated Singer Habib Koite and his musical troupe "Bamada" participated in the Udaipur World Music Festival 2020 in the State of Rajasthan, India from 7-9 February 2020. Mali’s cultural troupe Cheickne Sissoko 5Tamans participated in the National Tribal Dance Festival in Raipur, Chhattisgarh from 28-30 October 2021. Further, Mali sent a 21-member team for the UNESCO-India-Africa (UIA) Hackathon, Greater Noida, India held from 23-25 November 2022.

31. Mali has also been regularly participating in the Surajkund International Crafts Mela organized by the State Government of Haryana. A team of 7 Malian artisans participated in the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela held in India on 31 Jan-15 Feb, 2026 showcasing an exquisite range of Malian handicrafts, traditional products, and unique textiles, which had attracted significant attention from international visitors.

International Day of Yoga (IDY):

32. The Embassy of India in Bamako, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in charge of Civil Education and Citizenship Construction of Mali, hosted a grand and memorable celebration of the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, 2026 at Palais des Sports indoor stadium, Bamako. The event was graced by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Civic Education and Citizenship Building of Mali  Mr. Abdoul Kassim Ibrahim Fomba. Further, with the support of ICCR, the Mission is organizing weekly Yoga classes at the Chancery for promoting Yoga as a health practice.

India-Mali Film festival: 

33. To strengthen bilateral cultural relations, the Embassy partnered with the Ministry of Culture, Handicrafts, Hotel Industry and Tourism of Mali, the National Federation for Cinema and Audiovisual of Mali (FENACAM) and National Centre for Cinematography of Mali to organize 1st India-Mali Film Festival from August 15 to 17, 2025, at the Balla Moussa Keita Hall, International Conference Centre of Bamako (CICB). 

Indophiles in Mali:

34. There are many Indophiles in Mali who regularly conduct programmes on Indian culture, Bollywood etc. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his monthly radio programme “Mann Ki Baat” on 27 September 2020 praised Mr. Seydou Dembélé alias 'Hindustan Ka Babu of Mali' for his passion towards Indian culture. This was an unprecedented event in the history of India-Mali relationship. It is the first such occasion when an individual from either country was publicly appreciated by the political leadership at the highest level.

Indian Community in Mali:

35. The number of Indians in Mali is estimated to be around 600. They are mainly engaged in retail business, mining, power, steel, cement, pharmaceuticals and ago-industry sectors.

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20 August, 2026