It is official. President Ram Nath Kovind travels intensively. His record stands at 23 countries in over two years, while former President Pratibha Patil visited 21 in her five years and Pranab Mukherjee went to 24 countries during his presidency. Continuing India’s reach out to Africa, Kovind will travel to Benin, Guinea and Gambia from August 28.
“This illustrates the intensification and acceleration of India’s engagement with the world, where the President’s visits are only a snapshot,’’ said the press secretary to the President, Ashok Mallik.
Of the countries that Kovind has visited, forty per cent are in Africa. This is the first high-level visit by an Indian head of state in all three countries. Kovind, in his first two years, has established himself as a first ever visitor to many countries.
The formula of the visit is the same: a delegation level talks with the head of the state, a banquet, a speech and an Indian community outreach. In Gambia, Kovind will speak at the National Assembly, which has been built with the help of Indian assistance. This, perhaps, is the perfect way to really cement the relationship. There is also another special connection with Gambia, as President Adama Barrow is an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi. He has contributed to the anthology on Gandhi being brought out by the ministry of external affairs. Befittingly, the President will inaugurate an exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi and Khadi during his visit.
“The engagement with Africa is a priority of our foreign policy,’’ said the secretary East, Vijay Thakur Singh. “We are looking at high-level visits where none has happened. These three countries were clearly identified.’’
India has committed to cover Africa diplomatically. And there are plans to open 18 new embassies in the continent and seven of them are in West Africa. “The relations with Africa have gone through an unprecedented transformation in the past five years,’’ said Singh.
There have been 29 visits to Africa at the level of the president, vice president and prime minister. “This visit is expected to reinvigorate our relationship in all these three countries and give new directions,’’ said Singh. “We will sign MoUs and agreements with all three,’’ she added.
Kovind is expected to have talks on diplomacy, energy, economic development. In Benin, he will speak at the National Assembly.
