India has urged Mali to reconsider its ban on shea-nut exports as the two countries look to deepen trade and investment ties, with the issue emerging as a key agenda item during the inaugural India-Mali Forum for the Promotion of Exports held in Bamako.
The move comes as bilateral trade between India and Mali rose 55 per cent year-on-year to USD 326.61 million in FY 2025–26, underscoring strengthening commercial engagement between the two countries.
In a statement issued after the forum, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said, "The Indian side sought reconsideration of the shea nut export ban and reaffirmed the importance of protecting Indian nationals and investments."
The request is significant for Indian textile, FMCG and personal care companies. Mali is a major producer of raw cotton and exports commodities such as cashew, sesame, gum arabic and leather to India, while shea nuts are processed into shea butter, a key ingredient used in cosmetics and personal care products.
According to media reports, Mali imposed an inter-ministerial decree in October 2024 suspending exports of shea nuts, groundnuts, soybeans and sesame to promote domestic processing and value addition. The restrictions took effect immediately and remain in force.
During the two-day forum, both countries identified cotton and textiles, agro-industry and shea processing, mining and energy, pharmaceuticals, and social infrastructure, including healthcare and education, as priority sectors for expanding economic cooperation.
India currently imports raw cotton, finished leather, cashew, lead, gum arabic and sesame from Mali, while exporting pharmaceuticals, cotton fabrics, bicycles and two- and three-wheelers to the West African nation.
The Ministry of Commerce said India's Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme has been instrumental in strengthening bilateral trade flows. It estimated Mali's untapped export potential in the Indian market at nearly USD 3.96 billion, against global exports of around USD 4 billion, indicating significant scope for expanding agricultural commodity trade.
The forum brought together senior officials and around 30 Indian companies for business-to-business, business-to-government and government-to-government meetings covering renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, textiles, automotive manufacturing and mining, aimed at converting commercial opportunities into long-term partnerships and investment projects.
Mali also sought India's support in digitising its Certificate of Origin system and faster registration of approved Indian pharmaceutical products, a move that could improve regulatory efficiency and market access for Indian exporters.
As a follow-up, Mali announced it will host an international investment forum on 3–4 December 2026, where it will showcase bankable projects under its Vision Mali 2063 roadmap, positioning itself as a strategic investment hub in West Africa. |
