India's Africa push: Dammu Ravi to embark on a visit to Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda to augment ties

The visit by Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, India, to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya is seen as a reaffirmation of India's commitment to maintain the momentum of high-level contacts between India and countries in Africa. India's push to include the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 grouping is a reflection of the importance attached to its member countries. Reports Chandrakala Choudhury.

New Delhi: In a diplomatic development, Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, will pay a visit to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya from April 7-12. He will be accompanied by AS (E&SA), Puneet R. Kundal, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday.

The visit by the Secretary (ER) is a reaffirmation of India's commitment to further strengthen its ties of friendship with Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya and to maintain the momentum of high-level contacts between India and countries in Africa, post the entry of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G-20 during the Indian Presidency.

India's African reach has seen a momentum of growth in recent years. New Delhi's push to include the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 grouping is a reflection of the importance that India attaches to small countries.

In Rwanda, Secretary (ER) will represent the Government of India, in the event marking the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide (Kwibuka 30) on 7th April 2024. During the visit, he is also expected to hold meetings with Ministers and senior officials of the Government of Rwanda.

According to MEA, the Secretary (ER) will thereafter travel to Uganda from 08-09 April, leading a 35-member multi-sectoral business delegation that aims to increase trade and commercial ties between the two countries.

He will also meet with Ministers and officials of the Ugandan Government besides chairing a business session comprising captains of Indian and Ugandan industry. He is also expected to interact with the Indian community in Uganda.

The top diplomat will then travel to Kenya heading a large delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Indian agricultural companies, and business chambers from 10-12 April.

This visit will be in fulfillment of the decision taken in the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and the President of Kenya, during his visit to India in December 2023.

The delegation will inter alia explore the possibility of agricultural farming in Kenya. Secretary (ER) will also be chairing a business session comprising Indian and Kenyan companies besides having meetings with Ministers and officials of the Government of Kenya. He is also scheduled to meet with members of the Indian community in Kenya.

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