Modi in Rwanda: India sign 7 agreements with East African nation

Kigali, July 24: Officials from India and Rwanda signed seven bilateral pacts at Village Urugwiro, the address of the president of Rwanda, in Kigali on Monday evening local time, the African nation's leading daily The New Times reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame witnessed the inking of the agreements.

Modi reached Rwanda on Monday as the first destination of his three-nation tour of Africa which also includes South Africa, the host to this year's BRICS summit. He was received by Kagame, who is in charge of the East African country for 18 years now.

Modi and Kagame hailed the agreements as milestones in the longstanding ties between India and Rwanda. The pacts included cooperation in trade, defence and a cultural exchange programme (2018-22), The New Times report said.

The two sides also signed a Memorandum of Understanding over cooperation in agriculture and animal resources as well as in leather and allied industries, the report added.

Besides, India Exim Bank also committed to extend a $200million credit like to Rwanda for the development of special economic zones and agricultural schemes in the country.

President Kagame appreciated India's support to Rwanda and welcomed opening of an embassy by India in his country.

Kagame, who is the current chairperson of the African Union, said the process to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is currently underway, will make use of opportunities for investment and trade between Africa and India.

Modi was set to gift 200 locally sourced cows to families in Rweru model village in Bugesera district of Rwanda's Eastern Province on Tuesday, July 24, as a contribution to Rwanda's Girinka programme, The New Times report added.

Modi said India was keen to learn from Rwanda the practices in rural development and agriculture where it has made developments.

Modi and Kigali were scheduled to meet the business communities from both countries.

Rwanda also signed a number of agreements with China during the visit of President Xi Jinping to the African state just before Modi.