Sao Tome and Principe Foreign Minister Tiny to visit India Nov 29-Dec 3

Dr Carlos Alberto Pires Tiny, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sao Tome and Principe will visit India from November 29 to December 3 for discussions on ways of enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

This will be the first high-level visit on either side since the island nation got its independence from Portugal in 1975.

Sao Tome and Principe (STP), with an area of 1000 sq km, located in the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa, has a huge potential for hydrocarbons.

The tiny nation, which is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, has been actively cooperating with India in the international fora and has offered its support to India’s bid for non-Permanent Membership of UN Security Council for the term 2011-2012.

An official press release issued here today said STP wanted to diversify relations with India and had sought assistance in the economic and social development of its people.

Mainly an agricultural economy, producing cocoa, coconuts, palm, banana, papaya, pepper and cinnamon, STP needs expertise in processing and packaging and creation of employment through small-scale enterprises.

During the visit, apart from official talks with Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor aimed at establishing institutional framework for bilateral cooperation, Dr. Tiny will also have interaction with the Indian business and industry with a view to encouraging Indian investments in his country, the release added.

NNN