Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Arrives in Mogadishu

The Indian delegation led by state minister for foriegn affairs, Vijay Kumar Singh met with Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and foreign minister Mr Abdislam Hadliye.

The two sides discussed a number of issues including the security situation of the country as well as the relations between the two nations.

The minister expressed his admiration of the how the country is recovering from the conflict.

Somali president for his side welcomed the visit of Indian delegation to Somalia pointing out the historic relationship between the two nations.

Singh handed over an invitation letter on behalf of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud to attend Indian-African co-operation summit in coming October that will take place in New Dalhi.

India has appointed Yogeshwar Varma its High Commissioner to Kenya to be the concurrent ambassador to Somalia on last July.

This is a sign of growing Indian interest to Africa in a bed of competing China and Turkey in the commerce and investment sectors.