VOIWORLD/LAVANYA KUKREJA
WIth an aim to discuss potential growth opportunities and challenges for doing business in Angola, Dr. Vidhu P. Nair ambassador of India to Angola, met prominent Indian businessmen who are engaged in diverse areas in the country
Since 2024, the Ambassador of India in Angola, Mr. Vidhu P. Nair has been encouraging Indian
businesses across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence,
tourism, infrastructure, etc in an attempt to promote local-level cooperation. On February 28 2025,
a virtual business to business meeting was held between India and Angola, organized by the EEPC –
India (Engineering Export Promotion Council of India). On March 11 2025, Mr. Vidhu met with Indian
business representatives working in the education and healthcare sector while they were visiting
Angola. On March 20 2025, the Embassy of India in Luanda hosted a seminar with business
representatives (public and private sector) from both countries at Oscar Ribas University in Angola.
The seminar was named the “India – Angola: Partnership for Future”. On May 4 2025, a business
forum was held in New Delhi with the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Angola’s
President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço along with other business leaders to discuss the business
partnership between India and Angola. During the Angolan President’s visit in India, several
Memorandums of Understanding were also signed and a Defence Line of Credit was approved by the
Indian Prime Minister. Recently, it was reported on June 17 2025 that India and Angola have been
strengthening their economic and security connections, as per the African Defense Forum Magazine.
WHO IS VIDHU P. NAIR, AMBASSADOR OF INDIA TO ANGOLA
Dr. Vidhu P. Nair took charge as Ambassador of India to Angola on February 01, 2024.
Dr. Nair joined the Indian Foreign Service, India’s diplomatic service in September 2002. He has earlier served in Embassy of India, Berlin, Germany (2004-07) as Second Secretary (Political & Information); Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi (2007-10) as Under Secretary/Deputy Secretary in Europe West and East & Southern Africa Divisions; Embassy of India, Kuwait (2010-13) as First Secretary/Charge d’ Affairs/Deputy Chief of Mission; Consulate General of India, Hamburg, Germany (2013-15) as Consul General; Consulate General of India, New York, USA (2016-17) as Consul; United Nations and Counter Terrorism Divisions, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi (2017-20) as Director & Embassy of India, Ashgabat as Ambassador (2020-24).
Dr. Nair has extensive experience in diverse areas of diplomacy such as political, commercial, press & media, education, labour, administration, consular and community affairs. During his stint in Kuwait, Dr. Nair was in charge of the Labour Department and its Indian Community Welfare Centre. In Hamburg, under his leadership, an Indian Business Forum comprising Indian origin entrepreneurs was established. In the headquarters in New Delhi, he dealt with areas such as UN peacekeeping, Security Council reforms, counter terrorism, sanctions regime as well as other multilateral organisations like Non Aligned Movement & Financial Action Task Force. In Turkmenistan, he was instrumental in organising the first ever visit of President of India and opening of an ‘India Centre’.
Dr. Nair is a Post-Graduate in Veterinary Science from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. He also holds a diploma in Export and Import Management. He is proficient in 5 languages – Malayalam, Hindi, English, German and Russian (read, write and speak) – besides having working knowledge of Arabic (read and write). His hobbies include travel, sports/games, music (Indian & Western) etc.
He is married to Mrs. Neeraja G. Nair, who is a Museologist and Art Conservator. They have a daughter.
