PM leaves for home after six-day visit to African nations

Dar es Salaam, May 28: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, May 28, left for home after a six-day visit to Ethiopia and Tanzania during which he announced a financial package of 6.6 billion to the African nations.

During his three-day visit to Tanzania, India announced a new line of credit and assistance of USD 190 million for the nation and signed an agreement on avoidance of double taxation.

The two nations also vowed to intensify cooperation to combat terrorism and piracy and work closely for comprehensive UN reforms.

The new line of credit of USD 180 million will be for water supply projects in Dar es Salaam. Singh also announced a fresh grant of USD 10 million for capacity building projects in the social and educational sectors.

In Addis Ababa, the Prime Minister addressed the Second Africa-India Forum Summit and announced USD five billion lines of credit to Africa besides unveiling a slew of measures to boost infrastructure development and capacity building in the mineral-rich continent.

India also committed an additional USD 700 million to establish new institutions and training programmes and USD 300 million for development of a new Ethio-Djibouti railway line.

PTI