Event Overview
The India Africa Trade Council (IATC) announced the appointment of Mr. Darshan Prajapati as the Honorary Trade Commissioner – COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) during the Malawi Ministerial Delegation Meet held in New Delhi. The appointment marked a significant milestone in the Council’s continued efforts to strengthen India’s economic engagement with Africa and expand institutional cooperation across the COMESA region.
The announcement was made in the presence of Hon. Joseph Mwanamvekha, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Malawi, H.E. Mr. Leonard Mengezi, High Commissioner of the Republic of Malawi to India, senior government representatives, business leaders, diplomats, Honorary Trade Commissioners and members of the Indian and African business community. The event served as an important platform for advancing bilateral trade, investment and private sector collaboration between India and Malawi while also highlighting the broader opportunities available across the African continent.
Against this backdrop of growing India–Africa cooperation, the appointment of Mr. Darshan Prajapati reflects the India Africa Trade Council’s commitment to strengthening its presence across key African economic regions. COMESA, comprising 21 member states with a combined market of over 600 million people, represents one of Africa’s largest regional economic blocs and offers significant opportunities for Indian businesses seeking to expand across Eastern and Southern Africa.
Mr. Prajapati is also the Director of JD Impex and Shipping Pty Ltd, an international freight forwarding and logistics company specialising in sea and air freight, customs clearance, import and export solutions, warehousing, cargo consolidation and end-to-end supply chain management. With extensive experience in facilitating cross-border trade and helping businesses navigate global logistics, he possesses a practical understanding of international commerce and market access. His expertise in connecting businesses across international markets, streamlining supply chains and supporting import-export operations makes him exceptionally well suited to promote trade, facilitate business partnerships and strengthen commercial engagement between India and the COMESA region.
Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Darshan Prajapati said:
“I am honoured to be entrusted with this responsibility by the India Africa Trade Council. The COMESA region offers tremendous opportunities for Indian businesses, and I look forward to working with governments, industry leaders and enterprises to promote trade, facilitate investments and build sustainable partnerships that contribute to the economic growth of both India and Africa.”
As Honorary Trade Commissioner – COMESA, Mr. Prajapati will work closely with governments, trade promotion organisations, industry associations and private sector stakeholders to facilitate trade missions, promote investment opportunities, support business delegations and create strategic partnerships between India and COMESA member countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of the India Africa Trade Council, said:
“The appointment of Darshan Prajapati as Honorary Trade Commissioner for COMESA reflects our vision of building stronger institutional and commercial partnerships across Africa.”
The appointment further strengthens the India Africa Trade Council’s mission to promote economic diplomacy, facilitate cross-border business engagement and support investment-led growth.