Press Trust of India Posted online: Friday, January 07, 2005 at 1507 hours IST Updated: Friday, January 07, 2005 at 1515 hours IST
Jakarta, January 7: India has offered concessional credit to be used for reconstructing roads, buildings and harbour to tsunami-battered Indonesia which praised New Delhi for despatching quick relief to countries affected by the disaster.
"India's offer of assistance to tsunami affected nations has been met by surprise mixed with admiration by other countries and organisations," External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, who was in Jakarta to attend the day-long emergency summit on tsunami relief, said on Friday.
Since India was also badly hit by the tsunami "they were lumping us with the others but now we are seen separate offering our help and assistance," he said.
Singh, who met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono this morning, said the President had thanked him profusely for India's help.
"Apart from the assistance sent so far, we could also offer them concessional credit for reconstructing roads, buildings, harbours, ten units of fully equipped hospitals," Singh told the Indonesian president.
He said Sisulo remarked that Indonesia must learn from India expertise in technology, entertainment industry, communication and hoped for cooperation in energy and economic sector.
The Indnesian also hoped that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would visit Indonesia soon.
Singh said that the Presidnet asserted that India's relief ships had helped a lot in easing the country's burden.
