New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) President Droupadi Murmu will be visiting Algeria, Mauritania, and Malawi in Africa from October 13-19, which will see the first presidential visit from India to these countries.
Her visit to Algeria, in north Africa, with which India’s trade and economic relations have seen significant growth, are expected to provide further fillip to the bilateral cooperation in fertilisers.
India and Algeria have both opened defence wings in their embassies in the two respective countries.
President Murmu will visit Algeria on October 13-15 at the invitation of Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria.
President Murmu will address the Algeria-India Economic Forum and the Sidi Abdellah Science and Technology Pole University. She will be conferred with an honorary doctorate on October 15. She will also plant a sapling from India at the Hamma Garden.
She will depart for Mauritania on October 16. President Murmu will be the first Indian leader at that high level to pay a visit to Mauritania, in northeastern Africa.
Her visit to Mauritania is also happening as the country holds the Chairship of the African Union, which is very significant, Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA) said. “The timing is very important for us to further deepen bilateral relations.”
In Mauritania, President Murmu will hold tete-a-tete with the President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Four MoUs are expected to be inked, in the field of culture, foreign office consultations and visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders. She will also address the Indian community. Around 100-150 Indians are there in Mauritania. The Mauritanian President will host a banquet for her.
Mauritania is rich in iron ore, lithium, diamonds and there is potential for energy cooperation with large oil resources, and also large landmass for agricultural investment and phosphate mining, the Secretary CPV said.
India opened its mission in June 2021, and Mauritania is yet to open its mission in India. Bilateral trade is worth USD 115 mn, and India’s development assistance is growing.
The two sides will hold talks on the UNSC and India’s membership and non-permanent membership in 2028-29.
She travels to Malawi in southeastern Africa and will arrive there on October 17. She will hold a tete-a-tete with the Malawi President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera. The two sides will hold delegation level talks and three MoUs are to be inked, for cooperation in Youth Affairs, Sports and Cultural exchanges.
President Murmu will address the Indian diaspora.
Trade is between USD 150-250 mn with Malawi.
Indian companies are strongly present in Malawi. India’s investment is worth USD 500 million. Malawi is an LDC country and enjoys market access to India. We import pigeon peas from Malawi, which is a resource rich country and important for the Indian industry.
The visit comes as the two sides also mark 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
President Murmu’s three-nation tour will also show the importance that India attaches to Africa, the official added.
India has extended USD 400 mn development assistance to Malawi, through setting up a sugar factory, and cotton ginneries.
India is also setting up a permanent artificial limb factory, and has sent 1,000 MT of rice.
There are 15,000 Indian diaspora in various fields in Malawi and it is an opportune occasion to strengthen India-Africa relations.
The State Visit by President Murmu to Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi is reflective of India’s deep desire to strengthen its partnership with countries in Africa. It comes a year after the African Union was made a permanent member of G 20 during India’s Presidency.
UNI RN