India and Senegal have signed two agreements to begin a regular dialogue between their foreign offices and to cooperate in technology for small-scale industries.

The agreements were signed during External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh's visit to Senegal Wednesday and Thursday, said a statement issued Friday by the external affairs ministry.

On Thursday evening, Singh and his Senegalese counterpart Cheikh Tidiane Gadio issued a joint communiqué and signed a protocol to establish regular dialogue between their foreign offices.

A separate agreement was signed by D.K. Bhardwaj, managing director of India's National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), and Mody Ndiaye, director du cabinet in the Senegal's Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, that envisages the establishment of an Indian technology demonstration centre in Dakar.

The centre will showcase technologies developed by NRDC for the agriculture, fisheries and small-scale industries and create a channel for promoting export of Indian machinery and equipment to Senegal.

During Singh's meeting with President Abdoulaye Wade, the latter sprang a surprise by conferring on him the "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Lion" (Knight of the Lion's National Order), Senegal's highest award that is usually reserved for distinguished heads of states and governments.

Wade highlighted the importance of India's partnership with Senegal in key sectors like transport, agriculture and small and medium enterprises.

He acknowledged the enormous impact on Dakar's transport system following the arrival of 350 buses from India under a concessional line of credit.

Wade also conveyed his keen interest in emulating India's Green Revolution in agriculture and expressed his desire for assistance from India in this sector. India's competence in IT was internationally recognized and Senegal hoped to be able to use Indian expertise for its own ambitious programme to bring IT training to high schools and the administration.

Singh's meeting with Foreign Minister Gadio provided an opportunity to exchange views on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues. Gadio reiterated Senegal's support for India's candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Singh's visit coincided with a conference of Senegalese ambassadors and consul generals worldwide. In a rare gesture, he was invited to address the gathering of Senegalese diplomats and to participate in an inter-generational dialogue representing four generations of Senegalese diplomacy.

In another significant gesture, Singh and Gadio laid the foundation stone for a monument to Mahatma Gandhi in a prestigious spot by the side of the Atlantic Ocean adjoining Dakar's main highway.

The Senegalese government has named it Place Mahatma Gandhi and plans to build an impressive park around this monument.

Well-known Indian sculptor Gautam Paul crafted the bust of Mahatma Gandhi under the sponsorship of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.

At a reception hosted in his honour by Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty, Singh also met a cross section of the Indian community in Senegal. Though relatively small in size, the Indian community in Senegal has been increasing rapidly over the past few years.

Though Senegal is a Francophone country with close ties with France, India has emerged as its second largest trading partner and largest export destination.

The Industries Chimiques du Senegal project in which India's IFFCO has a sizeable equity supplies almost $200 million worth of phosphoric acid to India annually for use in the fertilizer industry.