New Delhi, Sep 18 - Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, the first Indian minister to visit Liberia in 38 years, arrived in the west African state bearing gifts, including lines of credit, a grant of $2 million and various training programmes.

Tharoor reached Liberia after a journey of nearly 24 hours via Brussels. Ihe visit is part of his two-nation trip of West Africa, with the next stop being Ghana.

The last time that an Indian minister was in Monrovia was in 1971, when Sardar Swaran Singh had come calling.

In his effusive style, Tharoor said he had 'terrific' meetings with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is the first elected female head of state.

Tharoor said, 'Africa is a real priority for us and presence is the best way to prove it.'

Accompanied by a business delegation, the minister offered help to Liberia in capacity building, training, trade, investment and IT.

A joint statement released at the conclusion of the visit said that India offered assitance in the forms of lines of credit on concessional terms, as well as a grant-in-aid for education and health projects of $2 million.

India also donated 25 buses to the Monrovia Transport Authority and two 'hole-in-the-wall' computer education centres.