Mineral industry of Africa in 2005 from 16.1% in 2004. In 2005, the principal mineral targets in Africa were copper, diamond, gold, and platinum group metals (PGM). African countries that experienced the highest levels of exploration activity in 2005 were, in descending order based on the number of exploration sites as compiled by the USGS, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Zambia, but activity took place in a number of other countries. Gold accounted for approximately 51% of reported African exploration projects, diamond accounted for about 14%, copper and PGM each accounted for about 11%, and nickel accounted for 5%. Early stage projects accounted
S. S. Palanimanickam of weaker sections of the society and has special interests in rural education and upliftment of the rural youth. He led a delegation of students to the then U.S.S.R. for attending youth festival, attended UN General Assembly in 2001-02 in New York, attended SAARC Parliamentarians Conference in Bangladesh, visited Egypt and South Africa as member of Indian Parliamentary Delegation during 13th Lok Sabha, visited Arab Countries as member of Peace Delegation in 2004.. In 2012, S. S. Palanimanickam signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with Monaco, being the 9th TIEA signed by India. In February 2012, CBI lodged strong protest