“Today, over a century and a half later, Durban is the largest Indian city outside India”. And, South Africa is one of the leading economies of Africa.
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This is the first prime ministerial visit from India to Kenya in 35 years after the visit of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives by train at the railway station in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on Saturday.
Prior to Sunday’s talks, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the State House here.
A barefoot women vocational training college in Zanzibar Islands of Tanzania and other countries in Africa has also been setup for imparting solar electrification skills and distributing solar kits.
Children of Tanzania wave India and Tanzania flag as they welcomed the PM Modi.
A group of about 30 Solar Mamas from Tanzania and a few other African countries demonstrated their skills in fabrication, fix and maintenance of solar lanterns and household lighting system in the presence of Prime Minister Modi.
“To tap into the energy of our 800 million youth, we have started a new campaign called Start Up India”, Modi said. Some people who know them both have said that they both grew up as outsiders and valued frankness.
Prime Minister Modi’s vigorous efforts in Africa will come a cropper unless there is institutional mechanism to follow through in terms of action and all IFS officers are made to serve in Africa.
India’s thrust in Africa under Modi is well thought out and multi-dimensional.
Modi said, “The Eastern coast of Africa, and Tanzania in particular have enjoyed strong links with India”. But the Third India-Africa Forum Summit in Delhi in October 2015 that was attended by the representatives of 54 African countries changed that. For India, Mozambique’s strategic location on the Indian Ocean is also important.
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India and Tanzania on Sunday, July 10, agreed to deepen their partnership in agriculture and food security and work together in the development and use of natural gas asNew Delhi committed more aid for this east African country’s water supply projects. He further said that although one-fourth of India’s investments in the continent were in South Africa, New Delhi wanted to explore potential to expand bilateral business and investment ties further, especially in the areas of mineral and mining, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, high technology manufacturing and information and communication technology.
