NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu is set to embark on the first visit by an Indian head of state to Angola and Botswana from November 8 to 13. This visit is part of India’s increasing engagement with Africa aimed at enhancing trade and investment, as well as fostering cooperation in vital sectors such as defence and technology.
During this visit, several agreements and initiatives are anticipated to be finalized to advance collaboration in areas including health, fisheries, and capacity building, as stated by Sudhakar Dalela, secretary (economic relations) in the external affairs ministry, during a media briefing on Thursday.
He also mentioned that defence cooperation will be a significant aspect of the discussions with both nations. India has broadened its diplomatic presence across Africa by establishing 17 new missions on the continent in recent years, and the current two-way trade with African countries is valued at nearly $100 billion.
Africa is home to an Indian diaspora exceeding three million, and the increasing engagement with the region aligns with the government’s focus on enhancing partnerships with nations in the Global South, as stated by Dalela.
Murmu is scheduled to visit Angola from November 8 to 11. In addition to discussions with her counterpart, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, she will address the Parliament of Angola and take part in the celebrations commemorating the 50th anniversary of the nation’s independence on November 11.
Angola, which currently holds the presidency of the African Union, ranks as the second-largest energy supplier on the continent. The bilateral trade between India and Angola amounts to $5 billion, with crude oil and LNG imports alone representing nearly $4 billion. “Our collaboration with Angola regarding energy security is extremely important, and we aim to investigate the potential for enhancing the momentum and depth of our partnership in the energy sector,” Dalela remarked.
Murmu is scheduled to visit Botswana from November 11 to 13, during which she will engage in discussions with her counterpart, Duma Gideon Boko, and deliver a speech to the National Assembly. The discussions will aim to enhance bilateral relations and investigate new opportunities for collaboration in areas such as trade, investment, technology, energy, and pharmaceuticals, as stated by Dalela.
“The Vision 2036 document of Botswana highlights its commitment to diversifying its economy and achieving high-income status. This visit will allow us to explore how the Indian business sector can collaborate with their counterparts in Botswana,” he remarked.
India has expressed its willingness to provide a $200-million credit line for Angola’s defence sector, and both parties are in the process of finalizing an agreement related to this initiative, according to Dalela. Furthermore, India is involved in training military personnel from both Angola and Botswana, with an Indian training team having been stationed in Botswana for three decades to support the training of the nation’s defence forces.
Following its collaboration with Namibia and South Africa on the translocation of cheetahs to India, the government is now in talks with Botswana as part of Project Cheetah, and Dalela indicated that “significant progress” is anticipated shortly in this matter.
