Prez Murmu departs on 6-day visit to Angola, Botswana

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday departed on a six-day State visit to Angola and Botswana, scheduled from November 8 to 13.

In a post on X, Rashtrapati Bhavan said, “President Droupadi Murmu departs for her State visit to Angola and Botswana. This will be the first-ever State visit by an Indian Head of State to these nations.”

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In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said,“Reiterating India’s commitment towards Africa and the Global South, President Droupadi Murmu has departed on a two country state visit to Angola and Botswana. This visit will be the first-ever State visit by our President to these nations.”

During the visit, President Murmu will hold bilateral talks with her counterparts, address the parliaments of both countries, attend key national events, and interact with the Indian diaspora in Luanda and Gaborone.

Ahead of President Murmu’s visit to Angola and Botswana beginning from November 8, the MEA on Thursday had said the visit is part of India’s broader priority to enhance cooperation with African nations.

Addressing a special press briefing ahead of the visit of President Murmu, MEA Secretary of Economic Relations Sudhakar Dalela said, “The President of India will be paying a state visit to Angola and Botswana from November 8th to 13th. This will be the first-ever state visit by an Indian head of state to Angola and Botswana.”

“India’s engagement with Africa is growing across all key pillars, from political, trade and economic, development and people-to-people connection… India’s growing engagement with the African continent is also in consonance with the government’s priority of strengthening partnerships with countries in the global south,” he said.

Dalela further said the visit is part of the government’s broader priority to enhance cooperation with African nations, noting that India is engaging with Botswana on the translocation of cheetahs under Project Cheetah, symbolising deepening environmental and conservation ties.

“The visit will provide an opportunity to explore how the Indian business community can partner with their Botswana counterparts in identified sectors. We are also engaging with Botswana for the translocation of cheetahs to India,” he said.

President Murmu will first visit Angola as part of the first leg of the tour from November 8 to 11, at the invitation of her Angolan counterpart, João Lourenco.

During her stay in Angola, President Murmu will hold bilateral talks, address the Angolan Parliament, and meet members of the Indian community. Discussions will cover cooperation in agriculture, energy, trade, investments, technology, defence, and infrastructure.

The MEA further said that from November 11 to 13, the President will visit Botswana at the invitation of President Duma Gideon Boko, during which she will hold bilateral discussions with the Botswana leadership, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, technology, energy, agriculture, health, pharmaceuticals, defence, and people-to-people exchanges.