Modi arrives in Tanzania, to hold bilateral talks

Dar es Salaam, July 10  Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Sunday accorded a ceremonial welcome at the State House here marking the start of his engagements with the Tanzanian leadership.

"A ceremonial welcome, the East African way. PM's Tanzania engagements begin at the State House in Dar es Salaam," tweeted Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, on Sunday.

"A rapturous welcome for PM," posted the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Twitter.

Modi arrived in Tanzania on Saturday from South Africa on the third leg of his four-nation tour of Africa.

"From Durban to Dar es Salaam! PM @narendramodi arrives late night in Tanzania on the 3rd leg of his African sojourn," Swaroop posted on Twitter.

This is the first prime ministerial visit from India to Tanzania in five years since the visit of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2011.

On Sunday, Modi is set to hold bilateral discussions with Tanzanian President John Magufuli which will be followed by signing of several agreements.

A highlight of Modi's visit to Tanzania will be a meeting with a group of "solar mamas".

"Solar mamas" are women from developing nations who have been trained in harnessing solar energy at the Barefoot College at Tilonia near Ajmer, in Rajasthan.

Modi will also interact with members of the Indian community, which numbers around 50,000 in Tanzania.

Thereafter, he will leave for Nairobi, Kenya, where he will address an Indian diaspora rally on Sunday evening.