PM to visit 4 African nations from July 7 to 11

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a five-day visit to Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya beginning July 7, with an aim to further deepen India’s engagement with the resource-rich African continent, where China has been expanding its influence.

The PM’s visit comes a few weeks after President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari travelled to Africa to strengthen and reinvigorate India’s ties. “The visit will provide opportunities to build on close contacts at the highest political level and enhance mutual cooperation and understanding on major issues of common interests,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

India’s current trade with Africa is around $75 billion and it has granted a whopping $ 7.4 billion for various developmental and capacity building projects in the past four years.