New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) 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.

The ‘hole-in-wall computer’ refers to a special educational project where children who don’t have access to technology are able to learn how to use computers organically.

“India extends hand of friendship and solidarity as Liberia rebuilds,” Tharoor said.

The joint statement, also released here, said that the West African nation had offered “substantial tracts of land for the development of commercial cropping for increasing Liberia’s food security as well as for export purposes”.

Besides, Liberia welcomed investments from India in the small scale, mining and agricultural sectors.

Tharoor also visited the Indian contingent of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which includes the first Indian Female Formed Police Unit (FFPU), whose role was much appreciated by Liberia.

The West African country announced support for India’s candidature of the non-permanent seat from the Asian Group for the period 2011-12 for which elections are to be held in October 2010.