Construction also begins on Bharat Mart in Dubai
DP World and the Government of India have announced the launch of the Bharat Africa Setu–a transformative trade initiative designed to double India-Africa trade and strengthen South-South cooperation.
Supported by India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of External Affairs, the initiative will connect DP World’s ports, economic zones and logistics parks across both regions. The platform will give Indian exporters access to 53 African countries and 260,000 points of sale through a fully integrated trade ecosystem.
The announcement was made during a UAE state visit to India, attended by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Bharat Africa Setu
Bharat Africa Setu will integrate physical infrastructure with value-added services, from export finance, marketing & branding, packaging, logistics, and certification services to create a seamless trade ecosystem for the two
“By leveraging private sector innovation and investment, we are committed to developing an efficient, future-ready trade corridor that facilitates seamless export flows between India and Africa, fostering prosperity and growth on both sides of the Arabian Sea,” stated Goyal.
“Our partnership with the Government of India to establish the ‘Bharat Africa Setu’ will open doors for Indian exporters to the vast opportunity in Africa by enhancing bilateral trade efficiency and improving market access,” commented Bin Sulayem.
Bharat Mart
The launch of Bharat Africa Setu coincides with the start of construction on Bharat Mart, a 2.7mn sqft B2B and B2C marketplace in Dubai. Designed to strengthen trade between India and global markets, Bharat Mart will serve as a one-stop export platform for Indian exporters.
Phase one, spanning 1.3mn sqft, is set to open by the end of 2026 in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza). It will feature 1,500 showrooms, and over 700,000sqft of warehousing, light industrial units, office space, meeting facilities with dedicated space for women-led businesses from India.
