Indian President Ram Nath Kovind made his first foreign trip as the head of state from 4th – 5th October 2017. He visited two African countries, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
India, Djibouti sign agreement on bilateral consultations
On October 4, 2017, India and Djibouti signed an agreement to establish regular Foreign Office-level bilateral consultations.
- The agreement was signed in the presence of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind during his official visit to Djibouti.
- President Kovind’s Djiboutian counterpart, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh was also present at the signing ceremony.
- Kovind thanked Mr. Guelleh for Djoibouti’s support during Operation Rahat for evacuating Indians from war-torn Yemen in 2015.
- Both the Presidents also discussed cooperation in the maritime and renewable energy domains.
- It is to be noted that Ram Nath Kovind is the first Indian leader to visit Djibouti.
Quick Facts About Djibouti:
- Capital – Djibouti City
- Currency – Djiboutian franc
- Current President – Ismail Omar Guelleh
India, Ethiopia sign agreements on trade, communication.
On October 5, 2017, India and Ethiopia signed agreements on trade, communication and media to boost bilateral ties. These agreements were signed in presence of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind during his official visit to Ethiopia.
- Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome, who was also present when the agreements were signed, discussed economic relations between both the countries with Mr. Kovind.
- India’s support to Ethiopia in the power sector, healthcare, and education sector was discussed between both the Presidents.
- During the visit, Mr. Kovind and Mr. Teshome also addressed the India- Ethiopia Business Dialogue.
- They also released a book titled ‘India- Ethiopia: 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations’.
- President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Ethiopia is the first by an Indian President in past 45 years since President V V Giri’s visit in 1972.
India extends USD 195 million credit line to Ethiopia
During his visit to Ethiopia on October 5, 2017, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind announced that India would extend USD 195 million line of credit to Ethiopia for power transmission sector and another USD 2 million line of credit for medicines.
- Ethiopian President Teshome mentioned that this will boost investment relations between the two countries.
- President Kovind stated that India wanted to strengthen bilateral relations with Ethiopia and both the countries will also work together in the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral bodies.
- India has thanked Ethiopia for its participation in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) which was established in 2015.
Quick Facts about Ethiopia
- Capital – Addis Ababa
- Currency – Ethiopian birr
- Current Prime Minister – Hailemariam Desalegn
