Africa outreach
King Mswati III of Swaziland, that borders both Mozambique and South Africa, visited India in 2015 and 2017.
“The dearth of high-level visits from India to African countries has long been cited as a problem in stepping up bilateral ties. One of the focus areas of the government is this aspect,” said the first official. “At least one ministerial visit took place from India to all African countries since 2015. The forthcoming visits would further add to the high level exchanges.”
He said the momentum was set by “41 heads of states or government attending the India-Africa forum summit in 2015.”
Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu will head for Africa in his second overseas visit. An official said he is likely to visit Botswana, Malawi and Equatorial Guinea in October. “Depending on the mutual convenience the visit could happen in May or in October,” said the second official. Before that, he will visit Panama and Guatemala in may.
Ethiopia and Djibouti were the first foreign port of call for President Kovind.
The stepping up of India’s engagement in Africa comes in the wake of China increasing its economic and strategic footprint across continent. A total of 152 lines of credit have been extended to 44 countries for nearly $8 billion to develop infrastructure, public transport, clean energy, irrigation, agriculture and manufacturing capacity across Africa.
India announced Lines of Credit of US$10 billion for development projects and a grant assistance of $600 million at the last India-Africa summit in 2015 to spread over 5 years.
New Delhi has plans to open 18 new Indian Missions in Africa — in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Swaziland and Togo over a four year period from 2018, increasing the number of Resident Indian Missions in Africa from 29 to 47.
“The decision will enhance India’s diplomatic outreach in the African continent and allow India to engage with Indian diaspora in African countries. Opening of new Missions is also a step towards implementing the vision of enhanced co-operation and engagement with Africa,” the government said in a statement.