Africa key figure in India's energy quest: Aiyar

In the quest for India's energy sector, Africa is an indispensable part. Mother Africa has huge reserves of energy that India could utilise.

India should cultivate a broad spectrum of relationship with the African continent as it forms an indispensable part in New Delhi's quest for energy, Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said on Wednesday.

HT Image

"In the quest for India's energy sector, Africa is an indispensable part. Mother Africa has huge reserves of energy that India could utilise," he said delivering a lecture on the 'Africa Day', organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs in association with the African heads of mission in India.

"We have to cultivate a broad spectrum of relationship with the whole of Africa. This relationship should be beyond bilateral relations and recognise the totality of Africa," Aiyar, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports and Panchayati Raj said.

"Africa can offer tempting riches to India. They are rich in oil wealth. We should engage each other in different fields like knowledge, communications and agriculture. We must aim at a greater people-to-people dialogue," he said.