The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's Department for International Development (DFID) mandated the International Trade Centre (ITC) to design and implement a project, called ‘Supporting India's Trade and Investment Preferences for Africa' (SITA).  The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is the implementation partner for the project in India.

Despite an enormous untapped potential for trade expansion between India and Africa, data reveal that a limited number of products are currently being traded. India's trade with Africa is concentrated in certain sectors and countries, and it is dominated by exports of primary commodities. While the potential for export diversification exists, it may not be realized without targeted intervention.

India is well-positioned as a partner to improve the productive and export capacities of African partner countries. With the growing importance of South-South cooperation, India's expertise can be leveraged to build trade capacities in African partner countries through the sharing of knowledge, technology and lessons learnt.

The project responds to the challenges that selected East African countries - Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania - face in increasing and diversifying exports. It also addresses trade priorities of the beneficiary countries so they can achieve sustainable development. 

Speaking at an event to mark the launch of the project, Sumanta Chaudhuri, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India stated that the India Africa relationship was based on collaboration and participation and the SITA project fits well within that framework. He felt that the SITA project would help take the India Africa economic relationship to a different level.

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