New Delhi: Petroleum Minister Ram Naik will represent India, in place of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, at the G-15 Summit in Venezuala beginning later this week.

The Group of 15 Developing Countries Summit, held once a year, is aimed at promoting South-South cooperation besides coordinating developing countries' stand on various international political and economic issues.

This year's summit would focus specially on co-operation in the energy sector and in this context Naik representing India is significant.

Naik is scheduled to leave for Caracas on October 24 night, official sources said.

PTI