N’djamena (Chad), Jan 5 (IANS) India’s ties with Chad, an oil-exporting country in central Africa, acquired a new dimension with the inauguration of a New Delhi-aided textile mill by President Idriss Deby Itno.
Deby Itno inaugurated the STT Textile Mill at Sarh, southern Chad, at a grand ceremony Dec 31 that was attended, among others, by the visiting president of neighbouring Central African Republic. Indian ambassador to Chad Mahesh Sachdev was also present at the function.

The textile unit was built with $25 million line of credit provided by the Indian government. The factory is expected to provide employment to hundreds of Chadians and boost the economy of the country.

Indian oil firms are exploring fresh opportunities in the oil sector in Chad, Malawi, Niger, Angola and Mauritania.

Chinese firms bought several oil exploration zones in Chad after the country ended a relationship with Taiwan and recognised mainland China in 2006.

Chad, rich in gold and uranium, became an oil-producing nation six years ago with the completion of a $4 billion pipeline linking oilfields in Africa’s fifth largest country to terminals on the Atlantic coast.