Modi's 10 principles to deepen ties with Africa

PM Modi is in Uganda on the second leg of his three-nation tour to Africa.

Kampala, July 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a five-day Africa visit, addressed the Ugandan Parliament on Wednesday during which he spelled out 10 principles that India would focus on to better ties with the African nations.

PM Modi is in Uganda on the second leg of his three-nation tour to Africa. PM Modi arrived in Ugandan capital Kampala last evening on a two-day visit to the country - the first bilateral tour by an Indian prime minister since 1997.

The following are the 10 principles that PM Modi mentioned in his address:

• "Africa will be at the top of our priorities. We will continue to intensify and deepen our engagement with Africa. As we have shown, it will be sustained and regular."

• "Our development partnership will be guided by your priorities. It will be on terms that will be comfortable for you, that will liberate your potential and not constrain your future. We will build as much local capacity and create as much local opportunities as possible."

• "We will keep our markets open and make it easier and more attractive to trade with India. We will support our industry to invest in Africa."

• "We will harness India's experience with digital revolution to support Africa's development, improve delivery of public services, extend education and health, spread digital literacy, expand financial inclusion and mainstream the marginalised."

• "Africa has 60% of the world's arable land, but produces just 10% of the global output. We will work with you to improve Africa's agriculture."

• "Our partnership will address the challenges of climate change."

• "We will strengthen our cooperation and mutual capabilities in combating terrorism and extremism, keeping our cyberspace safe and secure and supporting the United Nations in advancing and keeping peace."

• "We will work with African nations to keep the oceans open and free for the benefit of all nations. The world needs cooperation and not competition in the eastern shores of Africa and the eastern Indian Ocean."

• "As global engagement in Africa increases, we must all work together to ensure that Africa does not once again turn into a theatre of rival ambitions but becomes a nursery for the aspirations of Africa's youth."

• "Just as India and Africa fought colonialism together, we will work together for a just, representative and democratic global order that has a voice and a role for one-third of humanity that lives in Africa and India."

Earlier today, Modi addressed India-Uganda Business Forum in Kampala and said that he was there to resolve trade imbalance between the two countries.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, speaking at the India Uganda Business Forum, exhorted the business community from both countries to tap the opportunities available for enhancing trade and investment.

Modi and President Museveni earlier unveiled a bust of India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Indian community event. Earlier, both leaders held delegation-level talks and signed four MoUs in defence co-operation and other areas.

Prime Minister Modi also hailed India's ties with Uganda and other African nations, saying the resource-rich continent is now in the centre of his government's foreign policy. He announced that India will open 18 new embassies, taking the total number of the country's missions in Africa to 47.