Modi govt realises ignored continent needs attention

“This is my first visit to Equatorial Guinea. All three of my state visits since taking over as president of India in July 2017 have been to Africa... '' tweeted President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday morning. He is currently on a three-nation trip to Equatorial Guinea, Swaziland and Zambia. The president went on to add “This is acknowledgement of India's close and abiding relationship with the continent.”

Presidents and vice presidents have an important role in India's diplomatic outreach. They reach out to nations that the prime minister does not go to.

The PM, as head of the government, heads to the most crucial nations at the time, and Narendra's Modi's visits, be they to the US, France, and even Mongolia, are loaded with meaning and potential. He had rushed to do an impromptu meeting with Emmanuel Macron last year,soon after the latter became president of France. It was very important for India to establish a rapport with the new French disposition, at a time when France is looking poised to be the new 'Russia' from the Indian perspective. Mongolia, which shares a long border with China, needed early wooing, too.

But there are a slew of nations with whom it is important to develop and maintain high-level relationships, and the prime minister really does not have the time to visit them. This is where the presidential and vice presidential trips come in. These are more relaxed, spreading over a few days in each country. And while they may not be high optic visits in the Indian media, these visits are of immense significance to the host nations.

Africa is on India's radar. It is not a crisis continent, and does not require Modi to go and make frequent trips. Nor does it require the foreign secretary or national security advisor to dash off for troubleshooting on a regular basis. Yet, the potential of Africa is immense. A source of minerals and a consumer market that has yet to be tapped to its full potential is lying in wait there.

India is well aware of the silent incursions China has made deep into the heart of Africa, taking up infrastructural projects. India knows it has to keep the engagement alive and relevant just to keep up with China. A diaspora in many of these countries, as well as cultural and historical ties help, but they need continuous nurturing. And India has, in the past, taken Africa for granted, not really caring to update old relationships. For instance, there was a time when Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia was a name many Indians knew. He visited India 10 times while he was in power. During Indira Gandhi's time, the prime minister herself had visited Zambia.

Kovind visited Ethiopia and Djibouti on his first overseas trip last year and Mauritius and Madagascar earlier this year. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu is expected to make an African tour later this year; the itinerary is likely to include Malawi and Botswana. He will first be making a trip to Latin America, another region that needs some attention from India's top leadership.

The foreign tours of the president and vice president are planned by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the ministry of external affairs (MEA). Africa has not been left entirely to the offices of the president and vice president, though. Modi, early into into his tenure as prime minister, had made a four-nation tour of Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

It isn't as if Indian presidents and vice presidents don't go beyond Africa. Pranab Mukherjee, who—in his political career—had made friends across countries and governments, had visited countries as varied as Russia, Belgium, Turkey, Finland, Norway and Bangladesh.

The present dispensation has noticed that an ignored continent needs attention. It is trying to reach the half-way mark with visits. The next step would be to also realise that a visit is not enough: the engagements have to be lasting and relevant. Outcomes of the India-Africa summits should be perceptible.