New Delhi, Aug 31 - India and Namibia Monday signed five agreements, including one on civil nuclear energy which allows for supply of uranium from the African country.
This was decided at the start of President Hifikepunye Pohamba's five-day visit to India - which is the first state visit by a foreign head of state in the second term of the United Progressive Alliance, which was re-elected to power in May 2009.
After a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Pohamba had a discussion with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during which they especially laid stress on expanding economic ties.
'Our relations with Namibia have strong historical roots, which predate Namibia's independence. They are warm, cooperative and based on profound understanding of each other's aspirations,' Singh said in a statement after the meeting.
He was referring to the fact that the first ever mission of South West African Peoples Organisation (Swapo) was given full diplomatic recognition by India in 1986, even before Nambia got full independence.
After the discussions, both countries signed five agreements, including one on supply of Namibian uranium to India.
Later, addressing captains of Indian Industry, Pohamba noted that uranium and diamonds were sectors ripe for Indian industry to enter the Namibian market.
'Among the agreements that we signed today (Monday) is the cooperation between us on uranium. I believe that we have the best uranium in the world,' he said. Nambia is the fifth largest producer of uranium in the world.
After Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) allowed trade in nuclear technology and fuel with India, the South Asian country has been looking to ramp up its production of nuclear energy to meet its need for increasing electricity.