New Delhi: Shri Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles [MoS (PM)], is set to embark on a three-nation official tour to the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho, and the Republic of South Africa.
The visit will span from 18 to 25 July 2025 and is aimed at strengthening India’s engagement with Africa through enhanced bilateral cooperation and participation in multilateral forums.
Strengthening Ties with the Kingdom of Eswatini
During his visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini from 18–20 July, MoS Margherita will pay courtesy calls on His Majesty King Mswati III and Prime Minister of Eswatini.
He is also expected to hold substantive discussions with the Foreign Minister of Eswatini to assess ongoing collaboration and explore new avenues of partnership.
The focus of the discussions will be on deepening cooperation in critical sectors such as trade and investment, capacity building, development initiatives, and cultural exchanges.
India’s development cooperation with Eswatini, which includes infrastructure projects, scholarships under ITEC and ICCR, and capacity building efforts, will be spotlighted during this visit.
In addition to official engagements, the Minister will interact with members of the Indian diaspora and attend events celebrating India’s development partnerships in the country.
These engagements are expected to further consolidate the friendly relations between India and Eswatini, which have witnessed steady growth in recent years.
First Ministerial Visit to Lesotho in a Decade
The second leg of the tour will take MoS Margherita to the Kingdom of Lesotho from 20–22 July. This marks the first high-level ministerial visit from India to Lesotho in 10 years, the last being by Dr. Mahesh Sharma in July 2015, who visited as the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to deliver invitations for the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit.
In Lesotho, MoS Margherita is scheduled to meet His Majesty King Letsie III and Prime Minister Samuel Matekane. He will also hold bilateral talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations to discuss a range of issues, including economic cooperation, health, education, and information technology.
Further, the Indian Minister will meet with several senior government officials, including the Ministers of Information, Communications, Science, Technology & Innovation; Education & Training; and Labour and Employment.
These meetings are expected to result in concrete proposals for strengthening cooperation in key sectors, particularly human resource development, vocational training, and digital infrastructure.
Representing India at G-20 DMM in South Africa
From 23 to 25 July, Shri Margherita will travel to South Africa to attend the G-20 Development Ministerial Meetings (DMM), being held in Skukuza.
He will lead the Indian delegation at this important forum, where Development Ministers from G20 nations, invited countries, and international organizations will deliberate on pressing global developmental challenges and strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On the sidelines of the G-20 meeting, the Minister is expected to engage in bilateral discussions with Ms. Maropene Lydia Ramokgopa, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
He will also meet other dignitaries and heads of delegations from participating countries and international bodies, further reinforcing India’s commitment to global developmental cooperation.
Engaging with the Indian Diaspora and Business Leaders
Throughout his visit, MoS Margherita will also interact with prominent Indian community members and business leaders in all three countries.
These engagements will aim to promote cultural connections, enhance trade and investment opportunities, and celebrate the contributions of the Indian diaspora in Africa.
India has a long-standing historical connection with the African continent, underscored by shared values, a common colonial past, and mutual aspirations for economic growth and development.
This multi-nation tour by Shri Pabitra Margherita is expected to reinforce India’s diplomatic outreach, contribute to economic partnerships, and deepen people-to-people linkages.
India-Africa: A Shared Vision for Development
India’s relations with African nations continue to grow under the vision of South-South Cooperation. The visit by MoS (PM) comes at a time when India is seeking to broaden its engagement with African partners across multiple domains including health, digital technology, agriculture, education, and renewable energy.
This tour is in line with India’s proactive Africa policy, which emphasizes high-level engagements, capacity-building initiatives, and inclusive development.
The three-nation visit is not only a reaffirmation of India’s longstanding ties with Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa but also a step forward in nurturing new avenues of cooperation in a rapidly changing global landscape.
