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

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today 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 $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 $180 million will be for water supply projects in Dar es Salaam. Singh also announced a fresh grant of $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 $5 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 $700 million to establish new institutions and training programmes and $300 million for development of a new Ethio-Djibouti railway line.