President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola was formally received with a ceremonial guard of honour at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday.
The event was graced by President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with other senior dignitaries.
President Lourenco arrived in New Delhi a day earlier on a State Visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes senior ministers, officials, and business representatives.
Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh extended a warm reception at the airport.
Sharing updates on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the visit as a significant step in strengthening India-Angola ties.
President Lourenco highlighted that this state visit to India, the first in 38 years, is a significant step in reinforcing the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between Angola and India.
He also expressed deep appreciation for the warm and hospitable welcome extended by the Indian people.
The visit marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Angola in 1985.
Over the decades, the two nations have cultivated strong relations in trade, development, and diplomatic cooperation.
Angola currently serves as the Chair of the African Union for the year 2025, reinforcing its strategic relevance in Africa.
President Lourenco is likely to sign several Memoranda of Understanding during his visit, covering traditional medicine, agriculture, and cultural cooperation.
These agreements aim to deepen collaboration in sectors that benefit both economies and promote shared values of development and innovation.
The visit builds on a history of bilateral engagement. In 2015, Angola’s then Vice President Manuel Vicente participated in the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi.
India and Angola share strong, growing ties, particularly in the energy sector, with bilateral trade reaching $4.192 billion in 2023–24.
The two nations also collaborate closely on international platforms, consistently supporting each other in forums like the United Nations.
More recently, in July 2018, PM Modi and President Lourenco held talks during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
India and Angola have maintained regular diplomatic contact.
In January 2024, EAM Jaishankar met Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio on the sidelines of the NAM Ministerial in Kampala.
In 2015, MoS VK Singh travelled to Luanda as the Prime Minister’s envoy, personally delivering an invitation to the India-Africa Summit.
President Lourenco’s State Visit is expected to pave the way for stronger cooperation across political, economic, and cultural dimensions.
With Angola emerging as a key African partner, the visit underlines India’s commitment to enhancing engagement with the continent through mutual respect, development partnerships, and shared global aspirations.
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