President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday arrived here on the first leg of his four-day visit to Djibouti and Ethiopia, his maiden trip abroad since taking office.
Mr. Kovind, the first Indian leader to visit Djibouti, was received by Djiboutian Prime Minister Kamil Mohamed at the airport. During his visit to the two African nations, the President is expected to sign agreements on institutionalisation of foreign office consultation and greater economic cooperation with Ethiopia, Neena Malhotra, Joint Secretary (East and Southern Africa) in the External Affairs Ministry had said.
Djibouti is strategically located just off the Gulf of Aden.
Press Secretary to the President Ashok Malik has said that Djibouti is an important Indian Ocean partner country with whom India’s bilateral trade stands at $284 million in 2016-17.
“The President is looking forward to the visit. He recognises that the Africa and Indian Ocean region are central to Indian foreign policy. That is why this region was chosen as his first foreign visit,” Mr. Malik said.
India has extended a line of credit of $49 million to Djibouti, mainly for constructing a cement plant.
Mr. Kovind’s visit will be the first by an Indian President to Ethiopia after 45 years. The last visit was by President V.V. Giri in 1972.
India’s bilateral trade with Ethiopia in 2016 was nearly $$1 billion. The country is among the top three foreign investors in Ethiopia with an approved investment of $4 billion.
The President will also interact with the members of the Indian community in both the countries.
The President’s visit comes in the backdrop of Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops conducting their first live-fire military drills overseas on their base in strategically-vital Djibouti last month, in a major combat display.
