India has given $10 million as grant-in-aid to Mozambique to help it tide over the food crisis during the ongoing drought situation. The Indian High Commissioner in Mozambique handed over the cheque to the Minister of Trade and Industry of Mozambique, Vikas Swarup Ministry of External Affairs Spokeperson said on Thursday.
“This grant-in-aid was provided in response to a request from the friendly country of Mozambique, which has faced two consecutive years of drought leading to severe difficulties for its people. The Indian grant will help the Mozambique authorities to urgently purchase wheat from the international market, and thus help ensure availability of food for vulnerable sections of the Mozambique population,” Swarup said.
“The gift from India for purchase of wheat is a gesture of solidarity for a country which we see as one of our most important future partners,” he added.
India and Mozambique enjoy warm relations. India was among the first countries to open its embassy in Maputo, after Mozambique won its freedom in 1975 and it was the first country in mainland Africa that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited earlier this year.
Mozambique, home to nearly 20,000 people of Indian origin, is among India’s important economic partners in Africa and accounts for almost 25 per cent of India’s net Foreign Direct Investment into Africa. “We see a closer economic partnership with Mozambique as a vital ingredient in addressing India’s future needs of energy and food security,” Swarup said.