NEW DELHI, July 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
today left for a four-nation tour of African countries aimed at enhancing ties
with that continent, particularly in the economic sphere and people-to-people
contacts.
Modi will begin his five-day tour with Mozambique and then travel to South
Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.
Focus of the visit will be on deepening cooperation in areas of hydrocarbons,
maritime security, trade and investment, agriculture and food.
"My Africa tour, aimed at enhancing ties between India & Africa will begin
from Mozambique in a brief but key visit," he tweeted ahead of his
departure.
"My programmes in South Africa will span across Pretoria, Johannesburg,
Durban & Pietermaritzburg," he added.
"In Tanzania I will hold talks with President Dr. John Magufuli, meet
'Solar Mamas' and interact with Indian community," Modi added.
With regard to his visit to Kenya in the last leg of his visit, he tweeted,
"Talks with President @UKenyatta, deliberations on economic &
people-to-people ties will be focus of my Kenya visit."
Giving details in Facebook posts, the Prime Minister said the aim of his visit
to Mozambique is to increase cooperation and boost cultural linkages.
"I will meet President Filipe Nyusi and hold extensive talks with
him," he said.
Other programmes include a meeting with Veronica Macamo, the President of the
National Assembly and a visit to the S&T Park, Maluana, where he will
interact with students. He will also interact with the Indian community
briefly.
Tomorrow evening, Modi will travel to Pretoria in South Africa, a country he
described as an "important strategic partner, with whom our ties are
historical and deep-rooted."
He said, "History is witness to how Mahatma Gandhi's stay in South Africa
impacted him and the history of the world. He went to South Africa as a lawyer
seeking work and returned to India as a strong voice for humanitarian values,
who would go on to shape the history of humankind."
"I will have the honour to visit Phoenix Settlement and Pietermaritzburg
Station, two places very closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi's stay in South
Africa.
"A visit to South Africa is incomplete without remembering the beloved
Madiba (Nelson Mandela). 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.
During his South Africa visit, he will meet President Jacob Zuma as also Cyril
Ramaphosa, the Deputy President.
"In an effort to boost our economic ties, I will speak at the India-South
Africa business meet," 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, Modi said.
Modi will then visit Kenya on the evening of July 10.
"India-Kenya ties have stood the test of time. Both our nations have had
very strong people-to-people ties and both nations have successfully fought
colonialism in the previous century," the Prime Minister said.
-PTI