Prior to his departure to Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the focus of this visit will be on deepening cooperation in the areas of hydrocarbons, maritime security, trade and investment, agriculture and food. Modi will be on a five-day tour to Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya from July 7-11.
“My Africa tour, aimed at enhancing ties between India & Africa will begin from Mozambique in a brief but key visit,” PM tweeted. PM said that his visit aims at enhancing ties with African continent, particularly in the economic area and people-to- people contact. There has not been much travel to the Africa by Indian leaders for the last few years and PM’s visit will end that drought.
Giving details in Facebook posts, Modi said the aim of his visit to Mozambique on July 7 is to increase cooperation and boost cultural linkages. “I will meet President Filipe Nyusi and hold extensive talks with him,” he said. PM’s packed programme in South Africa on July 8-9 includes addressing two gatherings of Indian diaspora. “My programmes in South Africa will span across Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban & Pietermaritzburg,” he said and described South Africa as an “important strategic partner, with whom our ties are historical and deeprooted.
PM said he will have the honour to visit Phoenix Settlement and Pietermaritzburg Station, two places very closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi's stay in South Africa. “I will also be honoured to visit the Constitutional Hill and Nelson Mandela Foundation where I would pay my tributes to an icon of human history, who made his country and the world a much better place,” he said.
On July 10, he will be in Tanzania for a “brief but crucial visit” to give an impetus to ties with Tanzania, a valued friend in Africa. He will hold talks with President Dr. John Magufuli, meet ‘Solar Mamas’ and interact with Indian community.
Modi will visit Kenya on evening of July 10. “Talks with President @UKenyatta, deliberations on economic & people-to-people ties will be focus of my Kenya visit.” He will also have an interaction with students at the Nairobi University.