Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a five-day visit to Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya beginning on 7 July, with an aim to further deepen India’s engagement with the resource-rich African continent.
His visit comes within weeks of President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari visit to Africa to strengthen and reinvigorate India’s ties.
India’s current trade with Africa is around $75 billion and it has granted a whopping $7.4 billion for various developmental and capacity building projects in the past four years. India has implemented nearly 140 projects in 41 African countries during the period.
Modi’s first destination will be Mozambique where he will have bilateral discussions with President Nyusi on 7 July to expand existing cooperation.
In the second leg of his tour from 8 to 9 July, Modi will be in South Africa where he will have meetings with President Jacob Zuma and other senior leaders across the political spectrum.
The Prime Minister is also expected to visit Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
India’s ties with South Africa are crucial because both countries work closely in various multilateral fora like BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa), tripartite grouping IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), G-20 and BASIC, a bloc of four large countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China.
On 10 July, Modi will have meetings with Tanzanian President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli on a range of issues with an aim to further enhance mutual cooperation and understanding on major issues of common interest.
On the final leg of his trip, Modi will travel to Kenya where he will have bilateral discussions with President Kenyatta.
The Prime Minister will also address students in the University of Nairobi during the visit.
“The visit of the Prime Minister to the African mainland reflects India’s desire to further strengthen and reinvigorate bilateral ties with our African partners,” said Vikas Swarup.
India had organised a four-day-long summit with African countries in October last year which was attended by representatives of 54 African nations, including heads of state and government of around 40 countries.
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