The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a three-nation visit starting on November 16 that will include stops in Nigeria, Guyana, and Brazil for the annual G20 summit.
Nigeria will be PM Modi’s first stop, marking the first time an Indian prime minister has visited the resource-rich African nation in 17 years.
Starting on November 18, PM Modi will embark on a two-day journey from Nigeria to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the G20 summit. Along with South Africa and Brazil, India is a member of the G20 troika.
According to the MEA, the prime minister will present India’s stances on a number of global issues and expand on the conclusions drawn from the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration and Voice of the Global South Summits.
It stated that PM Modi is anticipated to meet with a number of leaders on the fringes of the summit.
With the primary goal of assisting the Global South or developing nations, India concentrated on a number of topics during its G20 presidency, which concluded on November 30 of last year. These topics included inclusive growth, digital innovation, climate financing, and equitable access to global health care.
According to the MEA, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has invited PM Modi to visit the country from November 16 to 17.
It stated that the prime minister would review the strategic partnership between Nigeria and India and discuss ways to strengthen the two countries’ relationship during the visit.
Additionally, he is expected to speak at an assembly of the Indian community in Nigeria.
Since 2007, India and Nigeria have been strategic partners with expanding defence, energy, and economic cooperation. According to the MEA, more than 200 Indian companies have invested more than USD 27 billion in important Nigerian sectors.
It stated that Nigeria and India have a solid partnership for development cooperation.
The prime minister’s final destination will be Guyana. According to the MEA, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has invited him to visit the island nation from November 19 to 21.
“This visit to Guyana will be the first by an Indian prime minister since 1968,” it said.
In 2023, President Ali visited India as the chief guest at the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Indore and he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.
According to the MEA, “the prime minister will meet with other senior Guyana leaders, have discussions with President Ali, address the Parliament of Guyana, and speak to an assembly of the Indian diaspora during the visit.”
“To further strengthen India’s longstanding friendship with the region, the prime minister will also attend the second CARICOM-India Summit in Georgetown, Guyana, and meet with leaders of CARICOM member countries,” the statement read.
The main goal of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), an intergovernmental organisation made up of 15 member states in the Caribbean, is to encourage economic cooperation and integration among its members.