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Expanding cooperation in oil/energy, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism and Defence sectors dominated the one-on-one meetings Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with 19 African Heads of State and officials, who are in Delhi for the 3{+r}{+d} India-Africa Forum Summit.
Briefing newspersons, a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry said the issue of increasing cooperation in the oil sector came up at meetings with Nigeria, Niger and Equatorial Guinea.
“During their discussions on cooperation between India and Nigeria in the oil sector, the Nigerian President informed the PM that India had become its largest importer of oil replacing the US, while the President of Niger told the PM that his country had further liberalised foreign direct investment rules in the oil sector,” a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry said. At the meeting with Swaziland, sugarcane processing as an area of cooperation was discussed, the official added.
“The common theme in almost all the meetings was the need for reforms at the United Nations Security Council, terrorism, climate change, and issues connected with the World Trade Organisation,” said Vikas Swarup, the official spokesperson of the Ministry.
The Prime Minister also made a “personal request” to the Nigerian President to expedite the release of 11 Indian crew members detained there. “The President assured the PM that he will look into this matter,” Swarup said.
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