NEW DELHI, May 26 (UPI) -- Former Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has called for closer energy ties with Africa.
"In the quest for India's energy security, Africa is an indispensable continent," he told African heads of missions, and others Wednesday.
Aiyar now serves as youth affairs and sports minister and is also in charge of local self-government issues. During his tenure as petroleum and natural gas minister, he pushed strongly for the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and also for closer energy ties with China.
"Africa can offer tempting riches to India. They are rich in oil wealth," Aiyar said. "We should engage each other in different fields like knowledge, communications and agriculture. We must aim at a greater people-to-people dialogue."
