PM Modi on 5-nation tour from June 4

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a five-nation visit from June 4 that will see him travelling to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico during which he — on the Swiss leg of his visit — is likely to seek cooperation to unearth black money accounts of Indians in Switzerland. This will be his second visit to Afghanistan and fourth to the United States.

According to news agency reports, Prime Minister Modi will begin his trip with Afghanistan to inaugurate the India-funded Salma Dam which has been constructed at a cost of about `1,400 crore. From Afghanistan, he will proceed to energy-rich Qatar and then to Switzerland.

During the two-day visit to energy-rich Qatar on June 4 and 5, Mr Modi will hold extensive talks with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on a range of bilateral issues, including ways to further boost economic ties, particularly in the hydrocarbon sector. Qatar is an important trading partner for India in the Gulf region with bilateral trade in 2014-15 exceeding $15 billion.

It is India’s largest supplier of LNG requirements and also one of India’s key sources of crude oil.

After Qatar, Mr Modi will visit Switzerland where he will hold talks with the Swiss leadership, including President Johann Schneider-Ammann, and is likely to seek cooperation to unearth black money.

According to reports, the officials of the two countries are working on finalising an arrangement that could pave the way for automatic exchange of information on tax-related issues. The Swiss government had on May 18 initiated consultation on an ordinance to put in place a mechanism for automatic exchange of tax information with India and other countries.

From Switzerland, Mr Modi will travel to the US on June 7 and 8 at the invitation of US President Barack Obama, with whom he will review the progress made in key areas of defence, security and energy. During his stay, he will also address a joint meeting of the US Congress. On his return, the Prime Minister will visit Mexico where India is eyeing trade and investment tie ups. In September last year, during his UN visit in New York Mr Modi had held talks with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The Prime Minister had been invited by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan to address a Joint Meeting of the US Congress which he had accepted. He will be the first foreign leader in the US to be given this honour in 2016. “The US Congress has been a source of strength for the India-US strategic partnership and the India Congressional Caucus is the largest such group in the US Congress,” the government had stated earlier. “During the visit (to the US), the Prime Minster will have interaction with CEOs of major US companies. Realisation of the full potential of our economic partnership has been a key priority for both the countries and the progress achieved in this regard is reflected in the increased investment flows,” the government had stated.