Indian PM Modi heads to Africa with an eye on rival China
Beijing’s trade with continent topped US$200 billion last year, while India-Africa commerce stood at US$72 billion
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to Africa on Thursday, seeking to boost his country’s economic influence in a region long dominated by rival Asian power China.
India has been working to improve ties with African nations as it vies for a greater share of the continent’s natural resources. Last year, it hosted a major summit of the Africa’s heads of state in New Delhi.
Modi will head first to Mozambique, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 34 years, before travelling on to South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.
The visit marks an unprecedented diplomatic outreach to the African continent
“The visit marks an unprecedented diplomatic outreach to the African continent and underlines the importance that India places on forging a multi-layered relationship with a rising continent,” said political analyst Manish Chand.
“The visit is not going to be just about the optics. It is underpinned by a substantive agenda encompassing all areas of interest – economic as well as strategic,” said Chand, the editor of Africa Quarterly.
India’s economic presence in Africa is dwarfed by that of China, whose trade with the continent topped US$200 billion last year – more than the GDP of the 30 smallest African economies combined.
But it is gaining ground, dominated by the energy sector and led by private entrepreneurs.