India, Burundi to discuss ways to enhance energy cooperation

Apart from being accompanied by his spouse Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza, the President will have Ministers of External Relations and International Cooperation, Agriculture and Livestock, Energy and Mines, Commerce and Industries and senior government officials in his delegation.

"The visit of the President is expected to lead to a further development of bilateral relations between India and the Republic of Burundi," official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said.

During his three-day visit, the visiting dignitary will meet his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Md Hamid Ansari and hold discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest with the Prime Minister.

President Nkurunziza will also address a business meeting jointly organised by ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI.

"Relations between India and Burundi are close and friendly. India is engaged with Burundi in capacity-building and infrastructure development programmes bilaterally and through the India-Africa Forum Summit process," Ravi Bangar, JS (East and South Africa) in MEA, said at a briefing here.

Asked if India will also take up the issue of uranium supply from Burundi, which has very huge reserves of it, Bangar said Burundi was yet to do a survey on its uranium reserves. The South African country is also platinum-rich.