NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Nigeria and Guyana from November 16 to 21, marking the first trip by an Indian prime minister in decades. During the visit, he will engage in discussions to assess and strengthen the strategic partnership between the african countries and India.
Following Nigeria, PM Modi will travel to Rio de Janeiro from November 18-19 to participate in the G20 Summit, MEA said in a statement.
“At the invitation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria H.E. Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prime Minister will visit Nigeria from 16-17 November, 2024. This will be the first visit by a Prime Minister of India to Nigeria in 17 years. During the visit, Prime Minister will hold talks to review the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria and discuss further avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship,” the MEA statement read.
PM Modi is also set to address a gathering of the Indian community in Nigeria, where around 50,000 Indian expatriates reside, forming the largest Indian community in West Africa. This strong expatriate presence, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, underscores the significance of India’s enduring ties with Nigeria.
Afterward, the prime minister will embark on a State Visit to Guyana from November 19-21, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since 1968. Previously, PM Modi announced a $14 million grant for community development initiatives in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), along with a $150 million Line of Credit aimed at solar, renewable energy, and climate-related projects.
“At the invitation of the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister will undertake a State Visit to Guyana from 19-21 November, 2024,” MEA said.
While in Georgetown, Guyana, he will also participate in the Second CARICOM-India Summit, engaging with leaders of CARICOM nations to deepen India’s longstanding relationship with the region.
CARICOM countries include 20 countries, of which 15 are actual member states (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Monserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago) and 5 associated states (Eel, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands).