India PM visit to foster commerce and health

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has jetted into the country from Tanzania for a State visit as part of a four-nation African tour.

Mr Modi's African tour began on Thursday in Mozambique where he held bilateral talks with President Filipe Nyusi before flying to South Africa to meet President Jacob Zuma.

Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Sutchitra Durai said Mr Modi will hold bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House on Monday. A statement released by Mr Modi’s office indicated he will be accompanied by a delegation of at least 80 business leaders.

“My deliberations with President Uhuru Kenyatta will revolve around how India and Kenya can grow their bilateral cooperation. I envision better trade, commercial and cultural exchanges,” said the statement.

Mr Modi is also expected to address a rally at the city’s Safaricom Kasarani Stadium today. Prime Minister Modi arrives a few days after a three-day State visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that ended on Wednesday, ushering a loaded diplomatic calendar for Kenya.

President Kenyatta said the PM's visit is an indication of the type of relationship the two countries have enjoyed over the years. "Our fundamental engagement must be based on people relationship," he said at the Stadium.

According to President Kenyatta’s spokesman Manoah Esipisu, the Indian PM’s programme will also include the ground-breaking ceremony for a cancer hospital.

“The government of India has committed to set up a cancer hospital in Kenya where it will provide doctors and equipment. A Memorandum of Understanding on health cooperation, which covers this project is being negotiated by both sides,” Mr Esipisu said in a statement.

Other engagements include attending the India-Kenya business forum, visiting the University of Nairobi to interact with students and pay tribute to India’s Independence hero Mahatma Gandhi and visiting the mausoleum of founding President Jomo Kenyatta.

India has been seeking to increase its footprints on the continent which has since May this year hosted President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari.

The country considers it has the advantages of wide-ranging historical ties to many African countries. This has come in the face of growing Chinese influence, including in Kenya where it is involved in major infrastructure projects and trade deals.

Mr Modi’s visit is a follow-up to the India-Africa Summit in October last year during which the Asian nation pledged $10 billion (Sh1 trillion) in soft loans over the next 10 years and $600 million (Sh60 billion) in grant aid to the continent.

A week after the Indian premier’s visit, Nairobi will play host to two major global events, starting with the 14th quadrennial conference of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) Conference from July 17 to 22.

The event is expected to bring some 6,000 guests, among them Heads of State, ministers, prominent players in the business world to tackle global trade and economic development issues.

KEY SUMMITS

Another major event, the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad) Summit, will take place from August 27 to 28. It will be the first time Ticad, which was launched in 1993 by the Japanese government, will take place in Africa and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected in town for the event.

Ticad’s objectives are to promote high-level political dialogue between Africa and its development partners.

Kenya was picked to host the Japanese-led summit after high-level lobbying last year, led by Deputy President William Ruto.

President Kenyatta is also to attend the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union. The Heads of States summit will kick off on July 17.

During the AU Summit, African leaders will be electing the next head of the continental organisation’s secretariat to succeed outgoing AU Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa.

Three candidates are battling to succeed Dr Zuma. They are Botswana’s Mrs Pelonomi Moitoi, a former Uganda Vice President Dr Specioza Kazibwe and Equatorial Guinea’s Mr Agapito Mba Mokuy.

Along with AUC chairperson, the African heads of states will also be electing the eight commissioners who serve under the chairperson.

Kenya is fronting outgoing Intergovernmental Authority on Development Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalim as the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.