Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started his four-nation safari in Mozambique, tweeting about his arrival in Portuguese.
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His tour will also focus on deepening cooperation in areas of hydrocarbons, maritime security, trade and investment, agriculture and food.
With 1.3 million people of Indian origin it also has the largest diaspora population in Africa, a major element of Modi’s diplomatic push across the world since taking office two years ago. He will later hold delegation-level talks, a signing of agreements and an issue of a joint statement.
Another MoU was signed on drug demand reduction, and prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor materials and related matters.
In Mozambique, Modi will sign a long-term Memorandum of Understanding to import pulses.
Focusing on “doers and performers”, the PM elevated Minister of state for environment and forests Prakash Javadekar to Cabinet rank and appointed 19 new Ministers of State who took the oath in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He is scheduled to meet president Jacob Zuma and his vice as well as visits to Phoenix Settlement and Pietermaritzburg Station, two places very closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in South Africa.
Both New Delhi and Beijing have from time to time sought to downplay their competition in Africa, even deny any rivalry to increase footprints in the vast continent.
“My deliberations with President Uhuru Kenyatta will revolve around how India and Kenya can grow their bilateral cooperation”.
“A programme that I am keenly looking forward to join is an interaction with students at the Nairobi University”, he said, adding that he would address a community programme on July 10.
Modi will be visiting Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya from July 7 to 11.
“The Prime Minister emplanes for a vital four-nation Africa tour”.
Noting that the partnership between India and Mozambique is “driven by convergence of capacities and interest”, he said, “Mozambique’s strengths are also the areas of India’s need”.
Singhal explained that Prime Minister Modi has been trying hard to strengthen political and trade ties with different African countries, as he knows that India needs those countries’ backing to get membership of the UN Security Council. India can also draw solace from the fact that the aggressive Chinese push in African countries for the use of its natural resources – oil being just one of them – is perceived as being exploitative in nature by many.
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Referring to the “gap” in the visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Mozambique, he said it “should never have been so long”.
