Updated

India's prime minister hopes his visit this week to four African nations, some not visited by an Indian leader in more than three decades, will reinvigorate cooperation in energy, trade and investment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mozambique on Thursday followed by South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

Brushing aside suggestions that India is trying to compete with China in Africa, an Indian External Affairs Ministry official says several agreements are expected to be signed with each of the four countries during Modi's visit.

Amar Sinha says these countries have been India's maritime neighbors across the Indian Ocean and act as gateways for Indian exporters and traders to landlocked African countries.

India's President Pranab Mukherjee also has recently visited Africa.