Indian Prime Minister Visited Mozambique

• Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi concluded his one day visit to Mozambique on 7th July,2016.
• This is Modi's first official visit to mainland Africa and is also the first prime ministerial visit from India to Mozambique in 34 years since the visit of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982.

Highlights of the Visit:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Centre for Innovation and Technological Development (CITD) at Maluana that has been built with Indian aid and interacted with students
• Modi also visited the Mozambique National Assembly and met its President Veronica Macamo.
• Narendra modi addressed Indian Diaspora in Mozambique before leaving to South Africa.
• India will be donating essential medicines for the Mozambican public health system, including medicines for treatment of Aids.
• There will be donation of four buses (Financial Grant $122000) for S&T Park from Indian side.
• Both countries agreed to cooperate on strategic and security challenges in the Indian Ocean through capacity and institution building, training, relevant equipment supply and security of the coastline,
• The three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed between both countries: a) On reduction of drug trafficking and psychotropic substances and related materials; b) On cooperation in the field of youth affairs and sports; c) On long term agreement for purchase of pulses.

Analysis:

• India and Mozambique enjoy close, friendly relations built upon traditional links dating back to the pre-colonial period. Traders and merchants from the Indian subcontinent came to Mozambique centuries back, even before Vasco da Gama set sail for Africa and India.
• Mozambique achieved its independence in 1975 from Portugal and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in the same year. India was, in fact, among the first countries to open its Embassy in Mozambique immediately after independence
• There are approximately 1,500 to 2,000 persons of Indian nationality and about 20,000 persons of Indian origin, holding Mozambican/Portuguese nationalities in Mozambique. A large number of these persons of Indian origin are engaged in the wholesale and retail trade and originally hail from Gujarat, Goa, Daman and Diu.
• Both countries stepped up their partnership in food security, with India signing a long-term pact for the purchase of pulses from Mozambique with the main focus on tur dal (Pigeon Peas).
• Mozambique has already been one of the gateways for Indian investments into Africa. About one-fourth of all Indian investments in Africa are in Mozambique. Indian investments in the energy sector in Mozambique amounted to $5.075 billion.
• The MoU on drug trafficking will aim at the reduction of the trade of psychotropic substances and related materials

By: Vishal