Guinea-Bissau–India relations

India is an important trade partner of Guinea-Bissau, and was Guinea-Bissau's largest destination for exports in 2010 and 2011. Guinea-Bissau is the world's fourth largest exporter of cashew nuts, and the sector accounts for 90% of the country's income and employs over 80% of its labour force making it vital to its economy. India is the largest importer of unprocessed cashews from Guinea-Bissau, importing over 90% of the country's annual cashew exports. Almost 98% of the cashew crop is exported to India for processing. Since 2011, India has increased its domestic cashew production and reduced imports from Guinea-Bissau. India's decision to slash imports of cashews in 2012 resulted in a cashew nut export crisis in Guinea-Bissau. Bilateral trade between Guinea-Bissau and India totaled US$212.64 million in 2015–16, recording a growth of 26.46% over the previous fiscal. India exported $14.47 million worth of goods to Guinea-Bissau, and imported $198.17 million. In May 2008, India offered to provide Guinea-Bissau unilateral duty free tariff preferential (DFTP) market access for export of goods and services. ==Foreign aid==

Under India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum’s “Poverty Alleviation Funding Facility”, an Indian expert visited Guinea-Bissau in early 2006 to help the country in rice cultivation, and an Indian team of experts visited to assist in a solar power project. Guinea-Bissau is a founding member of the TEAM-9 initiative. Under TEAM-9, the Indian government has provided the country with a line of credit worth $25 million, which includes a $5 million line of credit for the food processing and agricultural sector and $20 million for rural electrification projects. IBSA Trust Fund Board approved a sum of $830,000 in February 2009 for renewable energy and agricultural capacity building in Guinea Bissau. Five Bissau-Guinean women from rural regions attended training at Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan in 2009. After completing their course, they returned to Guinea-Bissau and successfully installed solar energy facilities in their villages. == Indians in Guinea-Bissau ==

As of December 2016, around 100 Indians reside in Guinea-Bissau on a long-term basis. About 40-50 Indians visit the country annually during cashew season, staying in the country for a few weeks to negotiate, purchase and ship consignments of raw cashew to India. ==References==