Moody’s India, the longest visit in a decade, as Congress members criticize: “The Global Touring Prime Minister”
According to The Times of India on the 3rd, Indian Prime Minister Modi, who is currently visiting Ghana, was awarded the Ghana Star by the Ghanaian government on the 2nd. He also signed four memorandums of understanding, covering cultural exchanges, traditional medicine training, and research and development. According to The Monetary Authority, Ghana was the first stop of Modi’s five-nation tour initiated on July 2nd, marking the first visit to Ghana by an Indian Prime Minister in thirty years.
Today’s India reported on the 3rd that during his visit to Ghana, Modi stated that Indian companies have invested $2 billion in Ghana, involving 900 projects. Both countries plan to double their bilateral trade volume within five years. India is also prepared to share its experience in the digital payment domain under the “Unified Payment Interface.” It was reported that both sides are also planning to strengthen cooperation in key mineral sectors. The Monetary Authority mentioned on the 3rd that Ghana is India’s main source of imported gold, accounting for 70% of India’s gold imports from Ghana.
Apart from Ghana, Modi will also visit Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, totaling eight days. This marks the longest duration of his visit in the past decade. During his visit to Brazil, Modi will attend the 17th meeting of the BRICS leaders, which is considered the most important part of his trip.
Before departing, Modi issued a statement saying that this visit would strengthen friendships among the global south, enhance partnerships between the Atlantic coasts, and deepen cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS and the African Union.
India’s Business Standard reported that besides strengthening relations with the global south, Modi’s five-nation tour aims to ensure India’s critical mineral supply chain. The key minerals agreement is expected to be at the center of discussions during his visit. Currently, Indian companies are actively involved in mining in Africa and Latin America, and India is negotiating cooperation in the key minerals sector with Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia.
New India Express described Modi as a “hyperspeed flying prime minister,” accusing him of traveling for leisure rather than addressing urgent domestic issues. The Hindustan Times reported on the 3rd that Congress member Moyttra from the grassroots Bharatiya Janata Party called Modi a “global tourism prime minister,” criticizing him for wasting taxpayer money. (Global Times article by Bai Yuan on July 4th)