New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) Minister of State for Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh, during his recent visit to Chile, also travelled to Antarctica and inspected the facilities at a Chilean airbase on the icy continent.

Three top defence officers of Chile accompanied Singh on the exploratory visit Jan 9 to the Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Air Force base in Fildes Bay on King George's island, a defence ministry release said Monday.

"The presence of top defence officers of Chile during Singh's visit to Antarctica underlines the significance Chile attaches to its growing bilateral relations with India," the release added.

Singh showed keen interest in the facilities available at the base, including an organic wastewater treatment plant that uses genetically engineered worms, the release added.

The minister presented a gold plated ornamental marble plate to the commandant of the base as a souvenir.

Singh also met the residents of Las Estrellas, the only village in Antarctica that has five families.

Chilean Air Force chief Gen. Ricardo Ortega, Naval Chief Admiral Rodolfo Codina and General Director Jose Berneles, Director General the Chilean Armed Police, accompanied Singh.