India

New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) India and African nation of Congo today discussed various avenues of co-operation between the two nations in the field of mining.

Addressing the foreign delegates here today the Minister of Mines Sis Ram Ola invited them to invest in the Indian mining sector. He said, India has vast geological potential and it offers excellent business opportunities for investment. It has the latest technology for exploration and exploitation of mineral resources and skilled manpower.

The Congo delegation was headed by their Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Raymond Ramazani Baya. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for Mines Dr T Subbarami Reddy.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Reddy said the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has served the nation for more than 150 years and has tremendous expertise in survey and exploration. ''The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and the Mineral Exploration Corporation of India (MECL) have also developed a lot of expertise in different aspects of mining. India has a thriving private sector too in this field with vast technical know-how, expertise and resources to tap the mineral potential,'' he added.

The Minister from Congo Mr Baya said that the Democratic Republic of Congo is rich with mineral resources like copper, cobalt, tin, diamond, gold, iron ore, manganese, coal and petroleum. The country looks forward to bilateral co-operation with India in prospecting, exploration and exploitation of its mineral resources, which is the mainstay of its economy, he pointed out.

Mr Ola said, in view of the rich mineral potential of Congo and its interest in attracting investment, India would like to co-operate with them in the mining sector. He hoped that the delegation level talks would help identify areas of co-operation and carry forward bilateral co-operation programmes.

UNI BKS ARB BD1946