PM Modi to embark on Africa Tour, to visit Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa attending the BRICS summit

NewsBharati    23-Jul-2018
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New Delhi, July 23: Strengthening India’s position on the international platform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a state visit to three African countries, namely Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa, over five days from Monday.

Marking the first-ever visit to Rwanda of Prime Minister PM Modi will be expected to extend two lines of credit of 100 million US Dollars each for agriculture and industrial sectors to Rwanda during his two-day visit to that country. The Ministry of External Affairs while briefing the media of PM Modi tour said, PM Modi will have an interaction with the Indian community-based in Rwanda. The Prime Minister will meet the leadership of Rwanda and will be accorded ceremonial reception.

India will also give 200 cows to Rwanda during the visit as part of an initiative to foster brotherhood and prosperity. Prime Minister Modi will be accompanied by a high-level business delegation.

 

PM Modi will leave for Uganda where he will call on the President. He will have delegation-level talks and will address Indian community. Prime Minister Modi will also address the parliament of Uganda. Two lines of credit worth 164 million US Dollars will be extended to Uganda during the visit. In Uganda, Prime Minister Modi will deliver a keynote address at the Parliament of Uganda, a first for any Indian Prime Minister.

In the last leg of his visit, Prime Minister Modi will reach South Africa on Wednesday to attend the 10th BRICS summit at Johannesburg. Inclusive growth, global governance, health and vaccines, peacekeeping, and sustainable development will be the core agenda of the BRICS summit.

The MEA statement said, "India shares close, warm and friendly relations with Africa which are cemented by robust development partnership and a large presence of the Indian diaspora. A number of agreements and MoUs in the areas of defense, trade, culture, agriculture and dairy cooperation are scheduled to be signed during the visit."

Africa has been the top priority of India's Foreign Policy. The visit of the Prime Minister to Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa will further strengthen our relations with the African continent.

Over the last few years, there has been a significant intensification of India's engagement in various fields with African countries and there have been as many as 23 outgoing visits to Africa at the level of President, Vice President and Prime Minister in the last four years.

Along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping will also be attending the BRICS Summit. Interestingly the Chinese President is also visiting Africa on lines of strengthening ties.