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This will be Modi's second visit to mainland Africa after his visit to Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya in 2016
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-day tour will begin on Monday. "The visit to Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa will strengthen our relations with the African continent," said the Foreign Ministry.
In recent years, there has been significant engagement in various areas with African countries. The president, vice president and prime minister have made 23 visits to Africa over the past four years.
"Africa has been the first priority of India's foreign policy," the statement said. and agriculture will be Modi's priority during his bilateral visits to Rwanda and Uganda before traveling to South Africa for the annual Brics, Brazil, Russia, India, China Summit.
This will be Modi's second visit to mainland Africa after visiting Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya in 2016.
Modi will arrive in Rwanda on July 23, during the first visit of the Prime Minister of India to the East African nation
Rwanda, considered an important gateway to East Africa, has been considered a strategic partnership in January of last year.
Briefing the media, TS Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations) at the Department of External Affairs, said that India will soon open its first mission to Rwanda. The current High Commissioner of India in Rwanda is based in Kampala, Uganda
Rwanda is also a beneficiary of almost $ 400 million in Indian credit lines and Indian training and scholarship programs
. "We are expecting agreements in the areas of defense, dairy cooperation, leather, agriculture and culture," Tirumurti said. In Rwanda, Modi will travel to the model village of Rweru to offer 200 cows as part of a program overseen by President Kagame, where the poorest families receive dairy cows from the government and the first female calf born from the cow is given to a neighbor To promote fraternity
From Rwanda, Modi will join Uganda on July 24 during what will be the first bilateral visit of an Indian prime minister in 21 years.
Tirumurti said Capacity building has been at the center of defense cooperation between India and Uganda. India has an Indian military training team stationed in Jinja since 2010.
In addition to convening Ugandan President Yowei Museveni and holding talks at the delegation level, Modi will participate in a joint trade event India-Uganda and will address the Ugandan Parliament.
He will also address members of the Indian community in Uganda.
"We plan to grant two lines of credit for the first time to Uganda, amounting to $ 141 million, for power lines and sub-642 million dollars for agriculture and dairy production, "Tirumurti said.
From Uganda, Modi will reach South Africa on July 25 on the third and final leg of his visit.
In addition to the Brics summit, Modi will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, who took office in February
South Africa is organizing the 10th Brics Leaders Summit under the theme "Brics" in Africa: Collaboration with developing countries for inclusion "Modi, along with other Brics leaders, will participate in the restricted session, the plenary session, retired leaders, raising awareness with leaders Africa and raising awareness with Southern leaders.
As part of the Brics-Africa outreach, the guests are Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Zambia, Namibia, Senegal, Gabon, Ethiopia, the Philippines. Angola and the presidency of the African Union. Among the southern countries are Argentina, Turkey, Indonesia, Jamaica and Egypt.
On the sidelines of the Brics summit, Modi will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will be the third meeting between the two leaders this year.
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