Vice President of India returns from tri-nation African tour

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) Vice President of India Hamid
Ansari on Tuesday returned home from a week-long tri-nation
tour of Africa during which India signed several pacts with
Zambia, Malawi and Botswana to promote agriculture, commerce
and infrastructure cooperation.
On his return here, Ansari described the visit as "very
useful and successful".
The delegation led by Ansari, started its tour from
Zambia on January 5, following which they visited Malawi and
Botswana.
Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, Vivek
Katju said the visit has thrown up many ideas and
opportunities which would be worked upon in the coming months
to concretise the relationship.
India extended a liberal credit line of USD 130 million
to Zambia, including a USD 50 million assistance for a key
hydropower project, as the two countries agreed to
"reinvigorate and re-energise" their relationship.
Malawi said it was keen to go for joint exploration of
its uranium reserves with India as part of its efforts to
attain energy security even as it inked three pacts with India
in fields like agriculture and small enterprises.
India also extended a USD 20 million Line of Credit and
grant of USD 8 million to Botswana for development of its
social and infrastructure sectors. PTI AMR
AHM