By IANS
New Delhi : India and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the resource-rich central African country, are set to expand their ties during the three-day visit of Foreign Minister Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi here starting Tuesday.
Nyamwisi will meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony Wednesday and discuss with them a host of bilateral and global issues, including the intensification of economic ties and cooperation in the area of defence.
The two countries are likely to sign several economic agreements, including one on cooperation in the diamond sector.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is among the 14 countries invited for the India-Africa partnership summit to be held in April.
India is ready to offer its expertise in diamond cutting, polishing and mining to DRC, known for its diamond industry.
The DRC, according to one estimate, is presently the world’s fourth-largest diamond producer by volume. In 2006, the central African nation produced 28.9 million carats worth $431.9 million.
The issue was discussed between the two sides in January this year.
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Libya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia are other countries that will attend the April summit – a precursor to a larger one.
The India-Africa partnership summit will also be attended by heads of sub-regional groupings like the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the Economic Community for West African States (Ecowas).