Most currencies in sub-Saharan Africa have depreciated against the US dollar, leading to increased inflationary pressures across the continent due to rising import costs.
This situation, coupled with a slowdown in economic growth, presents policymakers with difficult choices as they navigate the delicate balance between controlling inflation and supporting an ongoing but fragile recovery.
Meanwhile, India has taken steps to expand its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to several African countries, including Ghana, Tanzania, Namibia, Nigeria and Kenya.
In addition to the rollout of UPI, discussions have been held on local currency settlement arrangements. These initiatives hold the promise of fostering stronger economic ties between India and Africa.
Navigating Currency Volatility: Africa's Economic Challenges in a Global Economy
“The vagaries of the international economy do impinge on African countries who are then challenged for macro-economic structuring of their internal economies. If all transactions are conducted in dollars or euros, countries may struggle to repay their loans when their currencies depreciate," Ambassador Gurjit Singh, Former Indian ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, also the Chair of CII Task Force on Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) told Sputnik India.
In recent months, Nigeria has been struggling with a severe economic downturn marked by nearly 30% annual inflation and a significant devaluation of its currency.
The Nigerian naira has reached unprecedented lows against the US dollar on both the official and unofficial foreign exchange markets, plummeting to nearly 1,600 to the dollar on the official market, in stark contrast to its value of around 900 at the beginning of the year.
“The depreciation of African currencies compared to the dollar is a significant concern. In this context, the two initiatives mentioned by India, namely local currency transactions and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), hold relevance and possess the potential to greatly aid the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa”, Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, Former Indian Ambassador to Kenya and South Africa, also the CII’s International Advisory Council, Trade Policy Council and Africa Committee told Sputnik India.
Moreover, according to Bhatia, “another noteworthy issue is the insufficient resources available to African states for governance, development, climate transition, technology transition, and other purposes. This scarcity presents a substantial challenge”.
Screaming dollar
© Photo : taken from social media
India's Strategic Approach: Facilitating Direct Trade with Africa Using Rupee-backed System
Singh suggested that one way to mitigate the risk was through direct trade, like India using the rupee.
He explained that India was ready to introduce a rupee-backed trading system, allowing countries to use rupees earned from exports to cover import costs. Noting Africa's absence of a unified economic system, Singh mentioned India's collaboration with interested countries on a bilateral basis to implement such arrangements.
The strategy that has been implemented by India, Bhatia pointed out that is proving effective and has two key components:
"Firstly, there is a global promotion effort to highlight the relevance of India's digital stack, a suite of digital applications, for other countries in the Global South. This was particularly emphasized during India's presidency of the G20”.
“Secondly, the focus shifts to the implementation phase, involving technology transfer and facilitating access to UPI facilities. As more UPI services reach the African population, they will recognize its cost-effectiveness in overcoming banking limitations. Just as India benefits from these initiatives, so too will these countries” Bhatia noted.
Regarding debt stress in Africa, according to Singh, “While borrowing is restricted, securing investment to cover borrowing needs isn't straightforward. Therefore, if India provides loans for African projects, it's advisable for Africa to borrow in rupees. This strategy helps insulate against currency depreciation, ensuring better repayment terms when currencies depreciate against the dollar”.
Diversifying Currency Transactions: India-Africa Relations Beyond Dollar Dependency
“India and Africa stand to benefit from transactions not denominated in dollars or other hard currencies, which tend to appreciate over time. For instance, if Africa borrows $1,000 today and has to repay it in eight years, not only will they need to cover the interest, but also account for any depreciation of their currency against the dollar” Singh declared.
"However, if they engage in direct transactions with India using rupees, they would simply pay in rupees. Even if the Indian currency depreciates against the dollar by, say, 5 to 7% over eight years, the overall repayment burden is reduced," Singh said.
The second initiative India has been actively pursuing over the past few years involves conducting trade transactions using local currencies, meaning the national currency of each respective country.
"This initiative aims to establish parity between the Indian rupee and the currencies of various partner nations" Bhatia advised.
Once this parity is achieved, Bhatia highlighted that "transactions can be conducted through a specific mechanism, bypassing the need for intermediaries such as the dollar or other Western currencies”.
This approach, according to Bhatia, “offers significant cost savings by eliminating transaction fees and permissions associated with using foreign currencies. This initiative is gradually expanding its reach and coverage, indicating its potential as the future of trade transactions”.