Vadodara: Former Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Rui Duarte de Barros, on Monday urged Indian businesses to explore investment opportunities in West Africa, saying the region offers vast potential but remains largely untapped by Indian industry.Barros, who was in Vadodara as a guest of Parul University under its Global Perspective Series, said most Indian investments in Africa are concentrated in the eastern part of the continent.“There are many Indian investors in East Africa, but very few in West Africa. This is a big opportunity,” he said, adding that Guinea-Bissau’s strategic location makes it a gateway to global markets. “We are just four hours away from Europe and the United States. There is a market, infrastructure is available, and we need stronger trade relations with India,” he said.Highlighting the country’s agricultural potential, Barros pointed to its cashew industry. Guinea-Bissau produces around 300,000 tonnes of cashew annually, with nearly 90% exported to India, while only a small portion is processed domestically. He said there is significant scope for Indian companies to invest in processing and value addition.Barros also criticised the trade policies of US President Donald Trump, calling tariff measures counterproductive and warning that global conflicts and trade tensions were destabilising oil and gas markets and hurting smaller economies the most.
