Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed on Wednesday on a wide-ranging five-nation tour that will see him engage with leaders across Africa, South America and the Caribbean in a bid to deepen strategic and economic partnerships, while also participating in the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil.
The multi-nation visit begins with Ghana, marking the first bilateral tour by an Indian Prime Minister to the West African nation in over three decades. Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Ghana’s President to review the “strong bilateral partnership” and explore avenues to enhance cooperation in “economic, energy, and defence collaboration, and development cooperation partnership,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
“This visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India's engagement with the ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] and the African Union,” the release added.
In the second leg of the journey, the Prime Minister will visit Trinidad and Tobago from July 3 to 4. The trip marks his first visit to the island nation and the first Prime Ministerial-level bilateral tour since 1999. Modi will hold talks with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and is expected to address a Joint Session of Parliament during the visit.
The MEA stated that the visit “will impart fresh impetus to the deep-rooted and historical ties between the two countries.”
Modi will then travel to Argentina on July 4 and 5, where he is expected to hold discussions with President Javier Milei on strengthening bilateral cooperation across sectors including defence, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties.
Also read: PM Modi’s 5-nation tour to strengthen security, economy
The MEA called the visit a move to “further deepen the multifaceted Strategic Partnership between India and Argentina.”
During the fourth leg of his visit, Modi will attend the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 5 to 8, which will be followed by a state visit to Brasilia. This marks his fourth visit to Brazil.
The BRICS Summit will focus on key global challenges including the reform of global governance, peace and security, multilateralism, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, climate action, global health, and economic and financial matters. Several bilateral meetings are expected on the sidelines of the Summit.
In Brasilia, Modi will meet President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to discuss expanding the Strategic Partnership between India and Brazil across fields such as trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health, and cultural and educational exchanges.
The final leg of the tour will take the Prime Minister to Namibia on July 9, in what will be his first visit to the country and only the third ever by an Indian Prime Minister. Modi will meet with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and pay tribute to Namibia’s Founding Father and first President, Late Sam Nujoma.
According to the MEA, the visit will serve as a “reiteration of India's multifaceted and deep-rooted historical ties with Namibia.” Modi is also scheduled to address Namibia’s Parliament during the visit.
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