ABUJA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed confidence that India can continue to sustain a growth rate of between nine and ten per cent which offers limitless opportunities to overseas communities to contribute their mite towards it.
"India has entered an exciting new phase. It is a vibrant and self-confident nation. I invite you all to contribute your spirit, endeavour and enterprise in the service of your homeland," he told the Indian community at a reception hosted in his honour here late last night.
Singh is the first Prime Minister to make a bilateral visit to Nigeria after the trip made by the late Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962. Indian business and industry are the second largest employer in Nigeria.
He said India and Nigeria shared many commonalities and historical experiences and common developmental challenges have brought the two countries close.
"We share common hopes and aspirations. India is the largest democracy in the world and Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa. We are both multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual countries governed by systems of plural democracy," he said.
Singh said India's partnership with Nigeria and with Africa is important for his country. "We now seek to build on the goodwill that exists between us to shape a strong contemporary partnership that is multi-faceted and mutually beneficial."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment