Brief on India-Sao Tome & Principe Relations
Political Relations
Since the independence of Sao Tome & Principe in 1975, India and Sao Tome & Principe have enjoyed warm and friendly relations. During the period 2008 - September 2020, Sao Tome & Principe was accredited to the Embassy of India in Angola. The Embassy of India in Sao Tome started functioning from 21 September 2020. Presently, Sao Tome & Principe does not have a Resident Mission or an Honorary Consul in India.
Visits from Sao Tome & Principe
Sao Tome & Principe Prime Minister, Dr. Patrice Emery Trovoada visited India in October 2015 to participate in the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 28 October 2015. The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, especially cooperation for developing the infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare sectors of Sao Tome & Principe.
Other Ministerial visits
Dr. Carlos Alberto Pires Tiny, Sao Tome & Principe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation & Communities visited India from 29 November to 2 December 2009. This was the first high level visit on either side since the island nation got its independence from Portugal in 1975. During his visit, the Sao Tomean Foreign Minister held extensive discussions with Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs. The two Ministers signed a Protocol for Foreign Office Consultations.
Mr. Alfonso da Graca Varela, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Parliamentary Affairs of Sao Tome & Principe visited India to participate in the first International Solar Alliance (ISA) Summit held in New Delhi on 11 March 2018.
Sao Tome & Principe Foreign Minister, Mr. Urbino Botelho visited India on 8 September 2018 to sign the Framework Agreement on Space Cooperation.
A 3-member defence delegation led by Mr. Oscar Aguiar Sacramento, Minister of Defence and Internal Affairs of Sao Tome & Principe participated in the DEFEXPO 2020 and the “India Africa Defence Ministers Meet” in Lucknow during 5 - 8 February 2020.
Mr. Nelson Mário de Carvalho Rosa Cardoso, Minister of Infrastructure and Natural Resources of STP participated in the International Solar Alliance's Seventh Regional Committee Meeting (RCM) for the Africa Region, held during 2-4 September 2025 in Accra.
Ms. Isabel Maria Correia Viegas de Abreu, Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Higher Education of STP participated in the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in New Delhi during 8-13 December 2025. The meeting sponsored by UNESCO validated Tchiloli, a traditional open-air theatre form from STP.
Dr. Celso Nascimento Matos, Minister of Health of STP led a delegation of traditional medicines practitioners of STP to participate in the 2nd WHO Traditional Medicinal Summit held in New Delhi during 17-19 December 2025.
Participation in the Voice of Global South Summits (VoGSS)
Dignitaries from Sao Tome & Principe actively participated in all the Voice of Global South Summits (VoGSS). Mr. Adelino Rosa, Minister of Infrastructure & Natural Resources participated in the 1st VoGSS held in January 2023. Mrs. Euridice Semedo, Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports participated in the 2nd VoGSS held in November 2023. Dr. Gareth Guadalupe, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities participated in the Foreign Ministers' Session of the 3rd VoGSS held in August 2024.
Other visits
Hon’ble Justice Mr. Manuel Silva Gomes Cravid, President of Supreme Court of Justice of Sao Tome & Principe participated in the 25th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World held in Lucknow during 20-24 November 2024. Earlier in 2023 also, Hon’ble Justice Mr. Manuel Silva Gomes Cravid had participated in the 24th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World held in Lucknow.
During 14-20 July 2024, a 7-member delegation from the Ministry of Justice of Sao Tome & Principe visited Bengaluru, India to study the Digital Public Infrastructure model, including the digital ID and digital payments systems. This visit was coordinated by the World Bank office in New Delhi.
A 3-member delegation from Sao Tome & Principe attended the Seventh Session of International Solar Alliance Assembly held during 3-6 November 2024 at New Delhi.
Two health technicians from Sao Tome & Principe attended the 6-months Radiology Training Programme at Karad, Maharashtra during September 2024 – February 2025. The training programme was arranged by India office of Merck Foundation.
An officer from the National Medicines Fund of Sao Tome & Principe participated in the 11th edition of International Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Exhibition (iPHEX) organized during 4-6 September 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
A 2-member delegation from Sao Tome & Principe attended the Eighth Session of International Solar Alliance Assembly held during 27-30 October 2025 at New Delhi.
An Officer from the Ministry of Defence of Sao Tome & Principe attended the International Conference on '50 years of BWC: Strengthening Biosecurity for the Global South' held in New Delhi on 1-2 December 2025.
Visits from India
Ministerial-level visits
Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State (AYUSH) visited Sao Tome & Principe in August 2015 as a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to extend IAFS III invitation.
Shri M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs visited Sao Tome during 13-15 March 2018 and met with the President, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Sao Tome & Principe. During the visit, an Agreement for Economic Cooperation and a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Traditional Medicines and Medicinal Plants were signed.
Economic and Commercial Relations
According to the available statistics, the bilateral trade between the two countries for the last few years is follows:
Figures in USD Million
|
Year
|
Export to Sao Tome & Principe
|
Import from Sao Tome & Principe
|
Total Trade
|
Balance of Trade
|
|
2020-2021
|
1.96
|
0.08
|
2.04
|
1.88
|
|
2021-2022
|
2.07
|
Nil
|
2.07
|
2.07
|
|
2022-2023
|
1.51
|
Nil
|
1.51
|
1.51
|
|
2023-2024
|
1.53
|
0.02
|
1.55
|
1.51
|
|
2024-2025
|
1.89
|
Nil
|
1.89
|
1.89
|
|
2025-2026
(Till Feb 2026)
|
1.6
|
Nil
|
1.6
|
1.6
|
Source: General Customs Authority, Government of STP and the Department of Commerce, Government of India.
Trade between India and São Tomé and Príncipe is relatively small, primarily featuring Indian exports of essential commodities and pharmaceuticals to the island nation. Key items include rice and cereals, pharmaceuticals/medicaments, organic chemicals, vegetable fats/oils, textiles, plastics, and machinery. Major bottlenecks in boosting trade are inadequate air and sea connectivity, high cost for trans-shipments of goods and very small size of the domestic consumer market.
Development Partnership
Government of India has provided humanitarian medical assistance to Sao Tome & Principe on five occasions, viz. 24,000 doses of Covax vaccines in March 2021 as part of the Vaccine Maitri initiative; a donation of medicines in June 2021 on the request of Sao Tome & Principe side; anti-TB medicines in May 2023 as part of the Government of India’s initiative; donation of lifesaving drugs and generic medicines in June 2023 on the request of Sao Tome & Principe side; and humanitarian medical assistance of life-saving medicines for the main hospital in the country in January 2025 on the request of Sao Tome & Principe side.
Ooru Digital, a Bengaluru-based digital public infrastructure company is assisting the Government of STP in building interoperable digital platforms. It is implementing a MOSIP-based National Digital Identity system and a National Citizen Portal, enabling secure access to public services through National ID – based login. The project is funded by the World Bank and Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI), Bengaluru. The National Citizen Portal (https://gov.st) was launched on 27 March 2026.
On 10 April 2025, Government of India gifted 6 school buses to Sao Tome & Principe. India’s gift was in response to the request received from the Government of Sao Tome and Principe, seeking India’s assistance in making school education more accessible. This assistance reinforced the school transport fleet of Sao Tome and Principe, providing safer commute for students and reducing education costs for families.
Sao Tome & Principe signed the Framework Agreement on International Solar Alliance on 8 February 2018 and has also ratified the same. In November 2023, a Technical Country Mission of International Solar Alliance visited Sao Tome & Principe and NTPC carried out a pre-feasibility report for implementation of solar rooftop projects for prominent buildings in Sao Tome & Principe. NTPC is in the process of installation of 50kW Solar PV Project at Prime Minister's office in Sao Tome & Principe under the ISA framework.
India gifted 150 computers to Sao Tome & Principe in November 2019 for information technology upgradation of the Ministries and secondary schools of Sao Tome & Principe.
ITEC Programme and capacity building courses
Sao Tome & Principe has been utilizing the slots allotted under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme being offered to the country as part of Government of India’s contributions for capacity building and development assistance. 30 Sao Tome & Principe nationals have been trained in India under the ITEC Programme since 2002.
2 officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sao Tome & Principe attended the 71st Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats held at Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, New Delhi during 22 April-3 May 2024.
During November 2024, an Officer from the Coast Guard of Sao Tome & Principe attended the 11th edition of National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2024) conducted by the Indian Coast Guard at Kochi.
During October 2025, 1 Officer from the Coast Guard of Sao Tome & Principe attended the 10th Edition of the National-Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-25) conducted by the Indian Coast Guard at Chennai. During October-November 2025, 2 Officers from the Coast Guard of Sao Tome & Principe attended the Maritime Law & Operations Course conducted by the Indian Coast Guard at Kochi.
Cultural Relations
During January 2026, as part of the Government of India’s Familiarization Programme for Media Editors/Journalists from Africa, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands region, Mr. Abel Tavares da Veiga, editor of the digital newspaper Téla Nón, visited India. Previously in May 2025, as part of the Government of India’s Media Familiarization Programme for the Central and West African countries, Mr. Dario Pequeno Paraiso and Ms. Katya Aragao, well known social media influencers from Sao Tome & Principe visited India.
A 5-member cultural delegation from Sao Tome and Principe participated in the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2026 held in February 2026. Earlier in 2025, a 14-member cultural delegation from Sao Tome & Principe participated in the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2024 held in February 2024. In 2022 also, a 7-member cultural delegation from the country participated in the 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2022.
Local Yoga institutions partner with the Mission in organizing the International Day of Yoga, which is resulting in increased interest in Yoga among Sao Tome nationals and expatriates. Along with other Yoga enthusiasts, Minister of Health, Minister of Environment & Youth, as also the Secretary General of Ministry of Education of Sao Tome and Principe, participated in the 11th International Day of Yoga in Sao Tome.
Indian Community
Till 1961, there used to be a small-sized Indian community in Sao Tome & Principe, which moved away to other countries after the liberation of Goa. Presently, there are approximately 45 Indian citizens in Sao Tome & Principe, working in the retail outlets and services sectors.
***
31 March 2026
