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PM’s Africa tour to focus on energy, investment

India is hoping to boost its considerable interests in Africa with a four-nation tour to the continent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi starting Thursday.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will first visit Mozambique on July 7, followed by South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari had recently been to Africa. Brushing aside suggestions that India was trying to compete with China in Africa, the government said cooperation in energy, trade, investment, food, maritime security and terrorism were to be major focus areas.

Briefing the media, Amar Sinha, secretary, economic relations, in the ministry of external affairs, said several pacts will be signed with each of the four countries during the Prime Minister's visit. Modi will address the Indian community in all four countries. He will address gatherings in Johannesburg and Nairobi which have a significant number of Indian-origin people. "We are looking at consolidating gains of the India-Africa Forum Summit," Sinha said. India had organised a four-day summit here with African countries in October last year which was attended by representatives of 54 African nations, including heads of state and government of around 40 countries.