Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Nigeria on Saturday, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country in 17 years.
News360 Info reports that the visit comes at the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will engage in discussions aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria and exploring new areas to deepen bilateral cooperation.
He is also expected to address the Indian community in Nigeria.
Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri G. Balasubramanian, highlighted the long-standing strategic partnership between the two nations, dating back to 2007, with increasing collaboration in sectors such as energy, defense, and the economy.
According to him, over 200 Indian companies have invested more than $27 billion across critical sectors in Nigeria.
India and Nigeria share a robust development cooperation relationship, and Prime Minister Modi has prioritized Africa, particularly Nigeria, as a focal point for India’s West African engagement. This visit will be his first to West Africa, starting with Nigeria.
In a recent briefing, Periasamy Kumaran, the Special Secretary of Economic Relations and Development Partners Administration at India’s Ministry of External Relations, discussed India’s commitment to the Global South, which represents 85% of the world’s population.
He noted that India’s trade volume with Africa stands at $100 billion, with cumulative investments exceeding $75 billion.
Kumaran described India’s development partnerships as people-centered and responsive to specific needs, emphasizing the country’s willingness to share its experience across various developmental areas.
