India-Africa meet on hydrocarbon to kick off on Jan 21

After a gap of four years, the Oil Ministry will this week host a conference of African nations as it looks to cement ties with the energy-rich continent in an attempt to diversify its energy sources.
The 4th India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference (IAHC) will be held on January 21-22, an official said.
The last such conference was held in 2011. The conference was supposed to be bi-annual, but was skipped in subsequent years.
The official said the conference couldn't take place in 2013 because of the oil industry's bi-annual conference-cum exhibition 'Petrotech' featuring that year.
The conference is aimed at greater co-operation between India and the African continent for promoting partnership in hydrocarbons.

IAHC will also explore opportunities, bridge boundaries and boost bilateral trade between India and Africa, he said.
Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will deliver the inaugural address on January 21 while External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend the closing ceremony.