President Pranab Mukherjee on a six-day visit to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Namibia from June 12,2016

President Pranab Mukherjee will embark on a six-day visit to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Namibia from June 12,2016

This will be first ever visit of the President to Cote d’Ivoire after both countries established diplomatic relations, while it will be the first at the highest level in over two decades to Namibia.

During his trip, Mr. Mukherjee will be accompanied by a Minister of State, four Members of the Parliament, senior officials and a business delegation.

President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in Ghana’s capital Accra on June 12 on a two-day visit, during which he will have meeting with President John Dramani Mahama. The two countries may sign agreements on a joint Commission and renewal of Cultural Exchange Programme.

The President will address a Joint Business Forum and the students and faculty of University of Ghana besides having an interaction with the Indian community at a reception organised at the Indian High Commission.

He will also unveil a statue of Mahatma Gandhi gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.

The bilateral trade between the two countries has crossed bilateral trade crossed $3 billion in 2015-16, the Ministry said. He will also visit India-Ghana Kofi Annan Centre of ICT Excellence in Accra, set up with modest Indian assistance of $2.86 million.

In the second leg of his visit starting June 14, President Pranab will arrive in Abidjan, largest city of Cote d’Ivoire.

India had established its Embassy in Abidjan in 1979, while Cote d’Ivoire (also called as Ivory Coast) opened its Resident Mission here in September 2004.

He will have a meeting with Republic of Cote d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara and also sign number of agreements.

“The agreement regarding opening of EXIM Bank Representative/Regional in Abidjan would be handed over in presence of both the Presidents. The President would address a Joint Business Forum and also interact with the Indian Community,” a statement said.

India, has extended lines of credit amounting to 4156.3 million to Cote d’Ivoire for developmental projects in diverse fields such as public transportation, rural electrification, rice self-sufficiency, cashew nut processing, vegetable oil processing, coconut fibre processing, fisheries processing etc. and Mahatma Gandhi IT and Bio-technology Park, it said.

In the last leg of his visit, President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in the Namibian capital Windhoek on June 15.

“The visit, apart from consolidating bilateral interaction, will carry forward the momentum generated in India-Africa ties post--IAFS-III,” the statement said.

It said during the visit, discussions will be held on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

Mr. Mukherjee will also address a joint session of Parliament of Namibia, an India-Namibia Business event, and the Namibian University of Science and Technology, it said