Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says his government views the South American country of Guyana as key to its energy security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Guyana on Friday and said, “You can take an Indian out of India, but you cannot take India out of an India.” He said his experience of the tour had reaffirmed it.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit Wednesday to the South American country of Guyana, where 40 percent of the population is of subcontinental origin.

Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday his country is interested in oil from Guyana, the small South American nation with the world's highest per capita crude reserves.