Modi seeks to drum up business in African tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday kicked off a four-nation tour of Africa, as India scrambles to catch up with its Asian rival China’s strong presence on the continent. “My Africa tour, aimed at enhancing ties between India and Africa, will begin from Mozambique in a brief but key visit,” Modi tweeted before his arrival, […]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday kicked off a four-nation tour of Africa, as India scrambles to catch up with its Asian rival China’s strong presence on the continent.
“My Africa tour, aimed at enhancing ties between India and Africa, will begin from Mozambique in a brief but key visit,” Modi tweeted before his arrival, the first by an Indian leader to the southern African country in 34 years.
Modi held talks with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi in Maputo and will also take in South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya during the five-day tour.
India has been working to build ties with African nations as it vies for a greater share of the continent’s natural resources. Last year, it hosted a summit of Africa’s heads of state in New Delhi.
Its economic footprint in Africa is dwarfed by that of China, whose trade with the continent topped $200 billion last year.