"From Oct 26 to 29, India Africa Forum Summit is being held here. On Indian soil, it is for the first that an event of such a big scale is being held. Leaders of 54 African countries and Unions have been invited. Outside Africa, this is the biggest convention," he said in his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'.
"It is said that lakhs of years back, this (India and Africa) was a single land mass. Later, due to the Indian Ocean, it split into two," he said.
"There are a lot of similarities between us.... Around 27 lakh Indians have been living in Africa for a long time," he said.
The Prime Minister said India and Africa have economic, cultural and political ties but the biggest factor is the education provided by India to the African youth.