India and Mali launched their first institutional export promotion forum in Bamako, aiming to accelerate bilateral trade, investments, manufacturing cooperation, and long-term strategic economic collaboration.

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• India and Mali formally launched the first Export Promotion Forum in Bamako, institutionalizing bilateral trade cooperation and creating a structured platform for stronger commercial engagement and investment.
• Bilateral trade reached US$326.61 million during FY 2025–26, registering an impressive 55% year-on-year growth, reflecting rapidly expanding economic and business relations between both nations.
• The forum united government representatives and business leaders to explore partnerships through B2B, B2G, and G2G meetings focused on investments, manufacturing, infrastructure, and future business agreements.
• Priority sectors identified for collaboration include cotton and textiles, mining, energy, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, social infrastructure, and digital trade facilitation to strengthen long-term economic cooperation.
• Mali requested India’s support for digitizing its Certificate of Origin system and improving trade facilitation, while India highlighted investment protection and smoother bilateral trade mechanisms.
• Trade between both countries remains complementary, with Mali exporting raw cotton, leather, cashew, sesame, gum arabic, and lead, while India supplies pharmaceuticals, textiles, and automobiles.
• India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme continues supporting Mali’s exports by providing preferential market access, encouraging stronger trade flows and deeper economic integration between the two countries.
• Mali announced an Investment Forum scheduled for 3–4 December 2026, expected to showcase investment-ready projects under Vision Mali 2063 and attract global investors.