United Nations, Oct 21 (IANS) India has offered its fullest cooperation to harness the great potential of the African people for the cause of Africa's progress and development, saying New Delhi envisions a self-reliant and economically vibrant Africa.

'India envisions an Africa that is self-reliant, economically vibrant and at peace with itself and the world,' India's Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said Tuesday while participating in a debate on 'Partnership for Africa's Development' in the UN General Assembly.

Underlining India's historic ties with Africa, he recalled that while highlighting the vitality of African continent, India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had said: 'Of one thing there can be no doubt, and that is the vitality of the people of Africa.

'Therefore, with the vitality of her people and the great resources available in this great continent, there can be no doubt that the future holds a great promise for the people of Africa.'

'It is this promise that our Partnership with Africa seeks to fulfil,' Tharoor said adding, 'India will offer its fullest cooperation to harness the great potential of the African people for the cause of Africa's progress and development.'

'Trade across the Indian Ocean has linked us for hundreds of years. For the people of India, Africa is also the land of awakening of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi,' he said.

'India has a long-standing, close and multi-layered relationship with Africa,' Tharoor said noting 'Our partnership encompasses priority sectors integral to the developmental goals of Africa in the 21st century.'

'India is committed to work together with Africa in accordance with the priorities of the continent,' he said. These include infrastructure development, capacity-building, agriculture, health and food security and technology cooperation.

India had accorded high priority to development of economic infrastructure including railways, IT, telecom and power, he said.

India has so far extended over US$ 3 billion of concessional lines of credit to countries in Africa. During the India-Africa Forum Summit, India also decided to enhance the available concessional lines of credit for Africa to US$ 5.4 billion for the next five years, Tharoor said.

Over the next five to six years India will also be undertaking in Africa, on a grant basis, projects in critical areas such as higher and vocational education, science, IT, agriculture and renewable energy. A sum of US$500 million has been allocated for this endeavour.