Polish PM Visit to boost Indo-Polish trade

Nksagar-Sagar Media - New Delhi - Tusk held delegation level talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and called on President Pratibha Patil.Tusk is a first non - communist Polish Prime Minister to visit India on an official trip.After his meeting with Singh, the two sides inked a pact to enhance cultural exchanges between India and Poland.Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with the most important Indian politicians, President Pratibha Patil, Deputy President, Chairman of the Upper House of Parliament Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Chairperson of the Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi and head of the opposition Sushma Swaraj.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk met and took part in the working lunch with representatives of the leading Indian companies. In the morning, after the ceremonious welcome by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the head of Polish government laid a wreath of flowers in the Mahatma Gandhi Mausoleum.
The conclusion of India -EU free trade agreement is believed to have figured in
the talks. India and EU have been actively engaged on concluding this agreement for quite some time now. Poland is all set to take over the presidency of EU next year.According to External Affairs Ministry sources discussions in defence cooperation include joint ventures and transfer of technology.

Attending Polish Indian Investment Forum, Tusk added, "As India's tech hub, Bangalore is renowned the world over for its domain expertise in software, science and aerospace. Poland has been the preferred choice of Indian IT majors TCS, Infosys and Wipro to locate their outsourcing operations." Recalling the historical and cultural ties between the two countries, Tusk said the freedom struggle in India through the non-violent movement of its Mahatma Gandhi had inspired the Solidarity movement in Poland during the 1980s to rid the country of decades of communist rule.Polish leader, who is accompanied by his wife and senior government officials, addressed industry leaders in New Delhi at a luncheon meeting jointly organised by the industry chambers which was aimed at encouraging Indian investment in Poland. Negotiations are on between the companies from India and Poland for joint ventures in defence field.

Questions related to the development of economic cooperation were the leading subject of the talks. Donald Tusk told Polish journalists that Poland wanted to have the best possible relations with India. “We all know what a might and potential India represents. I must say that I find the readiness for underscoring good relations with Poland wherever I go,” he said. Donald Tusk declared that our country was especially interested in Indian investments in new technologies. “We shall encourage Indians to enter Poland more actively,” he assured. “We are a seriously treated economic partner,” added Donald Tusk.

Prime Minister Tusk remarked that a number of business undertakings of interest to Polish entrepreneurs require political support on the spot. “That is why the talks with Indian politicians are of capital importance in order to open the Indian gates for polish businessmen. In the first half of 2010, Polish-Indian trade turnover rose 13 percent as compared with the corresponding period of 2009. At the end of 2008, the value of Indian investments amounted to EUR 28 million and constituted 0.04 percent of direct foreign investments in Poland.

The prime minister stressed that Poland, which in the latter half of 2011 will preside over the European Union, has a real chance to gain the status of India’s extraordinary partner among the EU member states. “Indian politicians are well aware of the good position Poland has acquired in Europe in recent years, especially on the background of the world crisis,” he added. The EU-India summit is planned during the Polish presidency.

The head of Polish government discussed with Indian politicians the situation in Afghanistan and problems of multilateral relations. Premier Tusk added that Poland supported India’s endeavours to obtain UN Security Council membership.

Polish PM met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Later, the delegations of the two countries will have plenary talks. The “Programme of cooperation between the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland and the Indian Ministry of Culture for the years 2010-2013” will be signed in the presence of both prime ministers. The programme envisages cooperation in dissemination of information on cultural heritage of the two countries, exchange of experience and implementation of joint projects in monument conservation and protection.

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