India tries to bolster its ties with African nations

In a bid to give impetus to their bilateral trade, India and a few African nations have engaged in a series of high profile interactions. President Shri Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to travel Benin, Gambia and Guinea. This is the highest-level visit from India ever to the three West African nations. Benin, one of India’s key trading partners in West Africa, is regarded as one of the fastest-growing economies in the region. New Delhi has extended several lines of credit to Gambia, the second stop on the President’s journey. As far as Guinea is concerned, India has recently re-opened its diplomatic mission there.

At the same time, Defence Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh landed in Mozambique on Sunday for his 3-day trip. Exclusive economic zone surveillance, sharing of white shipping information and hydrography are some of the things on the minister’s agenda.