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Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he emplanes for Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa from New Delhi, on Monday, July 23, 2018. (PIB Photo via PTI)[/caption]
New Delhi, July 23 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left for Rwanda on the first leg of his five-day, three-nation tour of Africa that will also take him to Uganda and South Africa.
“Embarking on a momentous journey to strengthen our historical bond with Africa,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
This will be the first ever prime ministerial visit from India to Rwanda.
From Rwanda, Modi will reach Uganda on July 24 in what will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to that country in 21 years.
From Uganda, the Prime Minister will reach South Africa on July 25 where he will attend this year’s Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) Summit.
“India shares close, warm and friendly relations with Africa which are cemented by robust development partnership and a large presence of the Indian diaspora,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a pre-departure statement.
“A number of agreements and MoUs in the areas of defence, trade, culture, agriculture and dairy cooperation are scheduled to be signed during the visit,” it stated.