India believes its efforts to build fuel infra should benefit neighbours: Swaraj

India strongly believes that its efforts to build oil and gas infrastructure should also benefit its neighbours, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today.

Oil and gas are strategic commodities as price variations impact people down to the bottom of the pyramid fuel, the minister said.

"We are well aware that just as energy is a key pillar for our economic growth and development, it is also the same for our neighbours. Our government has been following 'Neighbourhood First' in our foreign policy.

"We strongly believe that our efforts to build our oil and gas infrastructure should also benefit our neighbours and promote economic development and raise their standards of living. We appreciate the close cooperation of our neighbours in this regard," Swaraj said.

The minister was delivering the valedictory address