Togo, India Set to Deepen Ties Through Cultural Cooperation

Culture

Monday, 13 October 2025 09:15

Togo, India Set to Deepen Ties Through Cultural Cooperation

(Togo First) - • India and Togo plan to expand their partnership into cultural cooperation, with upcoming projects promoting exchanges between artists from both nations.
• The initiative strengthens Togo’s South-South diplomacy and India’s soft power strategy in West Africa.
• India remains among Togo’s top three trading partners and ranked second among Lomé’s export clients in Q2 2025.

Togo and India plan to expand their partnership to include cultural collaboration, according to the Indian ambassador to Togo, Shri Sayed Razi. The announcement came during the third edition of the Indian Festival held in Lomé on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

The diplomat said both countries, which already enjoy strong cooperation in several sectors, aim to give “a new dimension” to their relations by building structured cultural exchanges. “Artists and cultural actors from India will come to discover what is being done in Togo, and vice versa. This will help establish lasting cooperation in the cultural field,” Ambassador Razi said.

Planned projects will include exchange programs and residencies for artists from both countries. Shri Sayed Razi highlighted that both India and Togo possess exceptional cultural richness. He said their “proximity in diversity” could transform culture into a source of economic development for both nations.

This approach aligns with Togo’s broader diplomatic strategy of promoting South-South cooperation. By engaging with India — an emerging global power with a strong cultural identity — Togo seeks to enhance its visibility in Asia through the promotion of its arts, music, fashion, and gastronomy.

For India, this initiative fits within its soft power strategy. By promoting its language, traditions, and cultural values in Togo, New Delhi aims to strengthen its influence in West Africa. The move also reinforces its growing presence on the continent, where it competes with China and other global actors for economic and cultural influence.

Officials from both countries’ ministries of culture are expected to meet soon to outline specific cooperation frameworks and funding mechanisms for the new initiatives.

Beyond culture, India remains a key economic partner for Togo. The South Asian nation consistently ranks among Lomé’s top three trading partners. In the second quarter of 2025, India was Togo’s second-largest export client, underscoring the depth of bilateral economic relations.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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