UPSC & GPSC · Current Affairs
India and Mali Hold Inaugural India-Mali Forum to Promote Exports
Source: PIB Delhi
What’s in News
India and Mali organised the first India-Mali Forum for Promotion of Exports to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, with bilateral trade crossing US$326 million in FY 2025-26.
Key Facts
- Bilateral trade between India and Mali reached US$326 million in FY 2025-26, registering growth of nearly 55% year-on-year.
- Priority sectors identified for deeper cooperation: cotton and textiles, mining and minerals, energy, pharmaceuticals, and social infrastructure.
- The forum involved participation from government agencies, export promotion councils, and industry representatives.
- Mali invited Indian companies to explore opportunities in mining value chains, renewable energy, and infrastructure projects.
- Mali announced plans to organise an Investment Forum in December 2026 to attract Indian investors.
Static Information
- Mali – Country Profile: Located in West Africa, capital Bamako; a landlocked country bordered by Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania.
- Major river: the Niger River, the principal river of West Africa.
- Economic importance: One of Africa’s largest producers of gold, with significant reserves of lithium, uranium, and phosphates; cotton is a major agricultural export.
- India-Africa economic engagement is conducted through the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), Lines of Credit via the EXIM Bank, and the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.
- Africa is important for India’s energy security, critical minerals, and market diversification.
Consider the following statements regarding Mali:
1. Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa.
2. The Niger River flows through Mali.
3. Mali shares a border with the Atlantic Ocean.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A) 1 and 2 only
Statement 1 is correct – Mali is a landlocked country. Statement 2 is correct – the Niger River flows through Mali. Statement 3 is incorrect – being landlocked, Mali does not share a border with the Atlantic Ocean.
