PM Modi to visit 3 African nations next week

New Delhi: India on Friday said it is not in “competition” with China in the African continent, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin an official visit to three African countries — Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa — from July 23 to 27. Apart from bilateral visits to Rwanda and Uganda, PM Modi will visit South Africa for the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit.

India is expected to ink a defence agreement with strategic partner Rwanda and also gift 200 cows for a social protection scheme of the Rwandan government meant for the poorest families there. India — which has already extended a $400 million line of credit (LoC) to Rwanda earlier — is expected to conclude two LoCs worth $100 million each for economic development of the African country where New Delhi is also expected to open its diplomatic mission soon. A “broad defence framework agreement” will also be inked with Rwanda.

During his visit to Uganda, Mr Modi will address the Ugandan Parliament.

New Delhi will also extend, for the first time, two LoCs to Uganda for its economic development that are collectively worth more than $200 million.

In South Africa, PM Modi, along with other Brics leaders, will discuss the situation in various “global hotspots” that are of concern to the world and also trade issues. He will also participate in various other engagements, including the first-ever Brics leaders’ Retreat, where the five Brics leaders will discuss various issues in an informal setting. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend the Summit and it seems likely that the two leaders will have a bilateral meeting although the MEA did not confirm it at this stage.   

In response to a question, the MEA’s secretary (economic relations) T.S. Tirumurti said, “I don’t think we (India) see ourselves in a competition with China in Africa at all. Our relations with African countries goes back a very long way ... It is on a very solid foundation of development, cooperation and security. I don’t think we look at the relationship with African countries through the perspective of relations with another country.”          

It is well-known that while China has already made investments worth billions of dollars in Africa that has boosted its influence there enormously. New Delhi is also doing its utmost to give economic aid to African countries and engage with them.

PM Modi will be accompanied during his visit by an official delegation but a large Indian business delegation is also expected to be visiting there at that time. PM Modi’s visit is being seen as part of the India’s Africa-outreach initiative.

Mr Modi will first visit Rwanda on July 23 and 24. He will visit Uganda on July 24 and 25 and then South Africa from July 25 to 27.

India had elevated its ties with Rwanda to strategic partnership in January, 2017. India will also be opening a mission in Rwanda very soon, MEA officials said. “Rwanda has been a recipient of our Line of Credit to the tune of US$ 400 million. During the visit, we expect to conclude two lines of credit. One for US$ 100 million for development of industrial parks and another US$100million for agriculture and irrigation,” Mr. Tirumurti said. PM Modi will also pay homage at the Kigali genocide memorial there.

In Rwanda, the “gifting of 200 cows” will be a contribution by India as part of a social protection scheme of the Rwandan Government  wherein the poorest families are gifted dairy cows by the Government there, the MEA said. “We will be buying local cows (in Rwanda),” the MEA said. The MEA also said there would be “agreements in the field of defence, dairy cooperation and agriculture” with Rwanda including a “broad defence framework agreement”.

During the next leg of his visit—to Uganda, PM Modi will address the Ugandan Parliament. Two LoCs for Uganda for the first time—US$ 141 million for electricity and US$64 million for agriculture and dairy farming—will be extended by India .

The MEA also said Ugandan authorities have invited many Indians to return to Uganda and has assured them of their safety. It may be recalled that a large number of Indians had been driven out of Uganda decades ago by the then notorious Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

In South Africa, PM Modi will hold talks with the new South African leadership led by President Cyril Ramaphosa. South Africa is organising the 10th BRICS leaders summit under the theme “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration with developing countries for inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the fourth industrial revolution”. There will be a “Restricted session, plenary session, leaders’retreat” as well as an “outreach with leaders from Africa” and another “outreach with leaders from the Global South”.

For the BRICS—Africa outreach, the countries invited are Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Zambia, Namibia, Senegal, Gabon, Ethiopia and Angola. For the BRICS plus outreach with the “Global South”, the countries invited are Argentina, Turkey, Indonesia, Jamaica and Egypt.

“Inclusive growth, the fourth industrial revolution, multilateralism, global governance, health, socio-economic empowerment of women, peacekeeping, science park, sustainable development and youth” are some of the issues expected to be discussed at the BRICS Summit  which is also “expected to discuss global hotspot issues and trade issues”.  The BRICS NSAs meeting report will also be presented.

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