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- Jul 30, 2008
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This is his second official visit to Africa as head of state, which is nine months after the third India-Africa Summit with around 50 African heads of state as India eyes to ramp up its Africa engagement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, East Africa, Regional and International Cooperation, Dr Augustine Mahiga, told reporters in the city that Mr Modi will meet with a group of rural women from poor communities trained by a college in India as solar technicians to help light up their villages.
“The aim of the visit is to further deepen India’s engagement with the African continent and provide opportunities to build on close contacts at the highest political level and enhance mutual cooperation and understanding on major issues of common interests,” he said Dr Mahiga said before he departs to Kenya, Mr Modi will meet with the Indian community living in Tanzania.
At the India-Africa summit in October, India pledged $10 billion in soft loans over the next ten years and $600 million in grant aid. According to Dr Mahiga, the premier will hold talks with President John Magufuli and sign collaboration agreements on various areas including industry, water, education, science and technology.
During his visit, Mr Modi will be accompanied by 50 big and potential business people from India, in which some have shown interest to invest in construction of steel factories, cement, pharmaceuticals and fruit juices.
They will get an opportunity to take part in a conference which will be hosted by Tanzanian premier. India is the largest trading partner of Tanzania in Africa, with bilateral trade in 2013-14 being more than $4 billion.
Exports to India are significantly increasing while imports are declining to bridge the bilateral deficit vis-à-vis India, thanks to efforts to promote the local manufacturing sector and increased motivation by Tanzanians to use local products.
According to the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investments, Mr Charles Mwijage, exports to India increased to 1.32 billion US dollars in 2015, up from 1.25 billion US dollars in 2014 due to an increase in exports of spices, cashews, hides, coconuts, legumes, fish, cotton and sisal products.
Imports from India fell from 1.84 billion US dollars in 2014 to 1.45 billion US dollars in 2015 due to a decline in imports of iron, plastic goods, chemical products, tobacco, corn and tea, he said in Parliament in May.
Source: DailyNews
