Gurjit Singh served as an Indian diplomat for 37 years, with postings in Germany, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, and as Ambassador to ASEAN and the African Union—making him the only Indian diplomat to hold both roles. He also served in Japan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and Italy. A passionate advocate for ASEAN, he has travelled widely, written extensively, and is a leading voice on India’s engagement with Africa, ASEAN, and the Indo-Pacific.
His books include The Abalone Factor (1997) on India-Japan relations; Ther Injera and Paratha (2009) on the partnership with Ethiopia. His third book, Masala Bumbu, (2015) shaped a fresh India-Indonesia agenda, while his comic Travels Through Time (2015) explored India–Southeast Asia civilizational ties. These were followed by Opportunity Beckons (2017), setting a new agenda for India and Germany. The Harambee factor (2022) is the best record of India-Africa Economic and Development cooperation in the 21st century. The Mango Flavour (2024) and The Durian Flavour (2026) delve into India, ASEAN and the decade of the Act East Policy.
He is an Honorary Professor at IIT Indore, chaired the CII Task Force on Trilateral Cooperation in Africa, and promotes SDGs, and impact investment in Africa, ASEAN, and other trilateral efforts.
