In Tanzania, PM Modi to chalk out road map for flourishing ties with President Magufuli

Aiming to further enhance mutual cooperation and understanding on major issues of common interest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would begin his brief but crucial Tanzanian engagement by visiting the State House, where he would receive a ceremonial welcome at Barack Obama Drive.

The Prime Minister will have a restricted meeting with Tanzanian President Dr. John Magufuli at Tete-a-tete Room of the State House around 10 a.m. (local time).

The meeting will be followed by a delegation-level talk at the Cabinet Room, signing and exchange of agreements at the State Room of the State House and a joint press statement around 11.15 a.m.

Hours before embarking on the four-nation tour, Prime Minister Modi said in a statement issued in New Delhi: "On Sunday 10th July, I will be in Tanzania for a brief but crucial visit to give an impetus to ties with Tanzania, a valued friend in Africa."

"There will be extensive talks with President Dr. John Magufuli, where we will chalk out the road ahead for bettering India-Tanzania relations in a wide range of areas. I will also be meeting 'Solar Mamas', a group of rural women solar engineers from Africa, who have been trained under GOI-supported programmes to fabricate, install, use, repair and maintain solar lanterns and household solar lighting systems in their villages," the Prime Minister added.

Thereafter, around 11.40 a.m., the Prime Minister will return to Hyatt Regency, where he is staying.

At Hyatt Regency, he will have an interaction with 'Solar Mamas' at Kibo Ballroom around 11.40 a.m., followed by an interaction with the Indian Community.

About 1p.m., the Prime Minister will attend a luncheon hosted by Tanzanian President Magufuli at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the State House.

Thereafter, Prime Minister Modi will take off for Kenyan capital city Nairobi from Julius Nyerere International Airport around 2.20 p.m.

While briefing the media in New Delhi earlier on July 4, before the Prime Minister's departure on the four-nation tour, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha said: "We are reaching Tanzania on Sunday, where every hour there is a new programme.

"Of course we are very grateful that Tanzania actually accepted an official visit on a Sunday which is a great gesture because nobody accepts a state visit on a Sunday. Tanzania was not only happy but in fact they were the first off the mark in terms that they immediately said that they would definitely want it and they would not want Indian Prime Minister to just fly over them between Durban and Nairobi. So we have decided that we will stop there and the whole Sunday would be spent there," said Sinha.

"There are the same elements on the official part. I can tell you what else he is doing there besides the official engagements. He is meeting the Indian community," he added.

Taking about 'Solar Mamas' training programme, Sinha said: "Solar Mamas are these grandmothers from villages who are brought by Barefoot College. He will also be meeting a group of 40 or so of Solar Mamas from different parts of Africa, which Barefoot College has trained. We are also actually funding setting up of one of the Barefoot College centres in Tanzania.

"It was a good opportunity for PM to actually see, because this connects with our new Solar Alliance, that we already have a cadre of well trained people even at the village level, who are solar technicians, who have already been electrifying villages. So, this will actually plug in with the overall initiative in Solar Alliance."

The Prime Minister will be in Kenya on July 11, where he will have bilateral discussions with President Kenyatta. Prime Minister will also address students in the University of Nairobi during the visit.