India and Africa to work together to increase agricultural production
10 Jun 2008, 1409 Hrs

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New Delhi, June 10 (ANI): India has sought African cooperation to increase agricultural production and tap alternative energy sources.

While addressing the interactive session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here last evening, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said that the effort would be to work together to bring in more innovative research to double the agricultural output.

He said there are four things - food security, health security, energy security and climate change - which are interlinked.

"We cannot remain dependent on hydrocarbons and fossil fuels, both for environmental reasons as well as considering a fact that these are depleting source of energy," he said.

Steps to strengthen cooperation were deliberated at a meeting between the visiting delegation of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) and the CII.

Africa National Congress (ANC) President Dr. Jacob G Zuma has invited Indian companies to invest in South Africa.

Zuma said that the private sector from India could make the difference in Africa quicker.

Earlier, the ANC delegation led by President Jacob G Zuma called on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

The ANC and the Indian National Congress will hold delegation-level meeting today after which they will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance ties between the two parties.

Dr Zuma, who was also the Vice President of South Africa, will lead the delegation to Mumbai on Wednesday for interaction with industry leaders there.

ANC President arrived here on a four-day visit on Sunday. (ANI)