India-Benin ink key pact to boost bilateral ties

India and the West African nation Benin have inked a key pact to boost bilateral ties and set up a joint commission to deepen multi-sectoral co-operation to consolidate their trade relations.Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, who ended his three-day visit here, yesterday signed a bilateral agreement -- covering political, economic, scientific, technical and cultural co-operation -- with his counterpart Jean Marie Ehouzou.The two ministers also signed the minutes of the first meeting of the joint commission set up to boost multi-sectoral bilateral co-operation to expand and consolidate their trade ties.Tharoor also flagged-off a Benin railways train with Indian locomotive. He also met with Beninois President Boni Yayi, who expressed his gratitude to India for making efforts to boost bilateral cooperations. -pti