FROM EIR DAILY ALERT
Modi and Kagame, in Rwanda, Witness as Their Countries Sign Seven Agreements
July 24, 2018 (EIRNS)—On his way to attend the 10th annual BRICS Summit over July 25-27 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Indian Premier Narendra Modi stopped in Rwanda and, along with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, witnessed as Indian and Rwandan officials signed seven bilateral pacts, reported Rwanda’s New Times. The event took place at Village Urugwiro, the President’s office in Kigali. Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian head of government to visit the East African nation, which is considered an important gateway for India to eastern Africa. Modi is on a three-nation tour, beginning with Rwanda and Uganda, and thence to Johannesburg for the BRICS summit.
The countries signed agreements in the area of trade, defense, dairy cooperation, agriculture, culture, leather and allied sectors and two lines of credit worth $200 million for expansion of the special economic zone and irrigation scheme, IANS reported.
“During the talks, both leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and expressed satisfaction at the excellent relations between Rwanda and India in the overall context of Strategic Partnership,”
India’s Foreign Ministry stated. Ties between India and Rwanda were elevated to a Strategic Partnership in January last year.
China’s President Xi Jinping also made a tour through Africa on his way to Johannesburg, arriving in Senegal on July 21-22, and then visiting Rwanda. He plans a stopover in the Indian Ocean island-nation of Mauritius on his way home. Africa is his first overseas trip since being re-elected as President in March.
