New Delhi : President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a four-day visit to Djibouti and Ethiopia on Tuesday.
This will be Kovind’s maiden foreign trip as President.
“The President is looking forward to the visit. He recognises that Africa and Indian ocean region are central to Indian foreign policy. That is why this region was chosen as his first foreign visit,” the President’s Press Secretary Ashok Malik said.
The visit will be the first by an Indian President to Ethiopia after then President V V Giri’s trip in 1972.
President Kovind will attend a business event and an interaction with the Indian community.
“Ethiopia is the largest recipient of concession by India. We have given USD 1 Billion concession to Ethiopia in three sugar projects,” said Neena Malhotra, Joint Secretary (East and Southern Africa) in the Ministry of External Affairs.
Indian government’s focus on Africa has enhanced since the third Indo-African Summit in Delhi in 2015 which saw participation of more than 40 heads of states and governments from Africa. (ANI)