New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India is hoping to ramp up economic ties with Mozambique, as the East African country’s President Armando Emilio Guebuza arrived in Delhi Wednesday on a five-day visit.
Guebuza, accompanied by four cabinet ministers, chose India for his first foreign visit outside Africa, during which he will discuss ways to increase bilateral trade and tap Indian expertise in capacity building.
‘We have had traditionally an issue-free relation with Mozambique,’ External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters here Wednesday.
Mozambique, with its long Indian Ocean coastline, is a key nation for India, as it provides a gateway to other land-locked African countries like Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Guebuza will be holding delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday afternoon, which will be followed by signing of agreements and release of a joint statement.
‘Since we have had regular high level contacts, we have had lots of agreements already on political side. Therefore, both governments are trying to now improve the economic side of ties,’ said the ministry’s Joint Secretary (East and South Africa), Gurjit Singh.
He said that agreements are expected to be signed on mines and minerals and a double taxation treaty.
India is the third largest trade partner of Mozambique, with bilateral trade having doubled in the last five years to $427 million in 2009-10.
India is also the fourth largest investor in the African nation. It is also slated to be the partner country for the Confederation of Indian Industry – Exim Bank India-Africa Project Partnership 2011.
About eight Indian companies, including Coal India Limited have shares in 22 coal blocks in the African country, with talks expected to look at further increasing cooperation in this sector.
Besides, discussions will also look at ways to commercialise the Sena railway line, which has been rehabilitated by an Indian rail consortium. The railway line links important coal production areas in Mozambique to the port of Beira.
After his engagements in Delhi, the Mozambique president will visit Ahmedabad and Mumbai, before leaving for home Monday.
