On July 23, 2018 PM Modi set out for his three-nation Africa tour of Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa, as part of India’s outreach to the resource-rich continent.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Visit to Rwanda from July 23-24, 2018.
In the first leg of the visit The Prime Minister Modi reached Rwanda’s capital Kigali for a two-day visit from July 23-24, 2018.
He became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Rwanda.
P.M.Narendra Modi attended India-Rwanda Business Forum in Kigali
i.With an aim to boost economic ties, PM Modi attended the India-Rwanda Business forum in Kigali on July 24,2018.
ii.Discussions on rural development and small scale industries took place. This would strengthen economic and cultural relations between the two countries.
iii.Delegation-level talks were held between Mr. Modi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
India, Rwanda signed eight agreements in various fields, the two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement
i.India and Rwanda signed eight MoU’s in various fields including Defence, Trade and Agriculture.
ii.An agreement on defence was also signed for capacity building, industry, science, and technology.
iii.An MoU on agriculture signed in May 2007 was amended in the field of agriculture and animal resources. It would work on research, technological development, capacity building and human resource development.
iv.An MoU on the cultural exchange programme for the year 2018-22 was signed. Area of focus will be music and dance, theatre, exhibitions, seminars and conference, archaeology, archives, library, museums, literature, research, and documentation.
v.MoU on dairy cooperation was signed on cooperation in agricultural research and education between RAB (Rwanda Agriculture Board) and ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).
vi.Focusing on training and research in dairy, processing of dairy products, quality and safety of mil, biotechnological intervention in livestock.
vii.An MoU on trade cooperation framework was signed to facilitate trade and economic ties.
India extended USD 200 million line of credit to Rwanda, to open a High Commission in Kigali
i.Two LOC (Line of Credit) agreements worth 100 million each was signed.
ii.Out of this: USD 100 million for development of Industrial Parks and expansion of Kigali Special Economic Zones and another USD 100 million for Agriculture irrigation scheme in Rwanda.
iii.This was signed between Chief General Manager, EXIM Bank, Nadeem Panjetan and Rwandan Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana.
iv.India decided to open a High Commission in Rwanda establish communication and facilitate consular, passport and visa services between the two countries.
PM Modi gifted cows to 200 households in Rweru model village in Bugesera under Rwandan Government’s Girinka Programme
i.PM Modi gifted 200 cows to villagers in Rwanda’s at Rweru village to support President Paul Kagame’s initiative of poverty reduction and child malnutrition.
ii.The name of the initiative is ‘Girinka Programme’ which translates to ‘may you have a cow’.
Modi also visited the Genocide Memorial Centre which honours over 250,000 victims of Rwanda’s mass killings in 1994.
i.On July 24,2018, PM visited the Genocide Memorial Centre which honours over 250,000 victims of the country’s mass killings in 1994.
Rwanda:
- Capital: Kigali.
- Currency: Rwandan franc.
- President: Paul Kagame.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Visit to Uganda from July 25-26, 2018.
He reached the Entebbe International Airport to visit Uganda for 2 days on 25th July 2018. He was received by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.
- It is the first bilateral tour by an Indian prime minister since 1997.
- He is also first Indian prime minister to address the Ugandan Parliament.
India, Uganda sign four MoUs in various fields
On July 25,2018, India and Uganda signed four MoUs in various field.
i.They are: Defence cooperation, visa exemption for official and diplomatic passport holders, cultural exchange programme and material testing laboratory.
P.M.Narendra Modi attended Indian-Uganda Business Forum in Kampala.
On July 25, 2018, Delegation-level talks were held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala in theIndian-Uganda Business Forum.
i.Discussions on topics included sectors such as defence, innovation, investment and tourism.
ii.The PM sought permission for Ugandan Airlines to fly to Mumbai for boosting tourism.
iii.Indian companies to invest in Uganda’s healthcare sector.
Mr Modi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni unveiled a bust of India’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
On July 25,2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni unveiled a bust of India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Indian community event they addressed in Kampala.
India extended two lines of credit worth nearly USD 200 mn to Uganda
i.On July 25,2018, India has offered Uganda a total $200 million worth of credit to help the East African country expand its electricity distribution infrastructure and invest in its agriculture sector.
Other announcements:
i.India will also assist Uganda in training, capacity building, infrastructure development, IT and development initiatives.
ii.India will provide a cancer therapy machine to the Cancer Institute in Kampala.
iii.India will build a commemoration centre in Kampala in memory of Mahatma Gandhi.
Uganda:
- Capital: Kampala.
- Currency: Ugandan Shilling.
- President: Yoweri Museveni.
PM’s Visit to South Africa from July 26-27, 2018
On July 26,2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on his arrival for the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
India and South Africa are celebrating 21 years of strategic partnership.
PM Modi meets S Africa Prez, discusses ways to boost bilateral ties
On July 26,2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa discussed ways to expand the bilateral ties in a number of sectors. These included: trade and investment, IT and defence.
The 3 MOUs signed in the Meeting were:
i. MoU between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India and the Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa on Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education.
ii. MoU between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of India regarding the Setting up of the “Gandhi Mandela Centre of Specialization for Artisan Skills” in South Africa.
iii. MoU between Indian Space Research Organization and the South African National Space Agency on Cooperation in the Exploration and uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.
This year also marks the 125th year of the Pietermaritzburg railway station ‘incident’ involving Mahatma Gandhi.
Commemorating the Satyagraha movement , twin stamps of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela will be released during the meeting between the two leaders.
South Africa:
- Capital: Cape town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein.
- Currency: South African rand.
- President: Cyril Ramaphosa.
10th BRICS Summit 2018
On the last leg of his 5 day South African tour, is the 10th BRICS Summit 2018 held in Johannesburg on July 26-27, 2018.
BRICS was held under the theme is “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution”
Action Plan:
- STRENGTHENING MULTILATERALISM, REFORMING GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AND ADDRESSING COMMON CHALLENGES
- STRENGTHENING AND CONSOLIDATING BRICS COOPERATION IN INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
- BRICS PARTNERSHIP FOR GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY, REFORM OF FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC GLOBAL GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS, AND THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
- PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE COOPERATION
What is Fourth Industrial Revolution?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is the fourth major industrial era since the initial Industrial Revolution of the 18th century. It is characterised by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres.
PM meets Xi on the sidelines of BRICS
PM Modi meets Chinese President Xi Jinping for the third time in four months. The two leaders reportedly discussed strengthening India-China ties and new opportunities for cooperation.
PM meets President of Argentina
PM narendra modi had a good meeting with the President of Argentina Mauricio Macri on the sidelines of the #BRICS Summit. Discussed enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture and food processing and pharma.
PM meets President of Angola
PM narendra modi had a meeting With the President of Angola Joao Lourenco. Discussed intensifying relations in trade and investment, agriculture & food processing, pharma, oil and natural gas.
PM Narendra Modi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, and said the friendship between India and Russia is deep-rooted.
The two leaders had a comprehensive discussion on bilateral issues of mutual interest, especially in trade, investment, energy, defence and tourism.
