India committed to strengthening ties with Africa: Shashi Tharoor

India today said it is committed to strengthening its relationship with African nations based on equality and seeking mutual benefits through a consultative process as enumerated in the 2008 India-Africa Forum Summit.

"Our model of cooperation with Africa is clearly one of seeking mutual benefits through a consultative process. We do not wish to go and demand or impose or suggest certain rights but we what we want to do is to contribute to the achievement to the African development objectives," minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor said.

"We come to you and say what do you need and how can we help you. You tell us this is what you need," he said at the India-Africa conclave here.

Tharoor said the partnership has been more visible in recent past like in the fields of trade and commerce and in human resource development.

India is also proceeding under the joint action plan emerged from the Delhi summit to establish an India-Africa institute of information and technology, and Africa-India institute of foreign trade, vocational training centres to build capacity in Africa with whatever experience and expertise we in India can contribute, he said.