A HIGH-level meeting between Bahrain and India, opening in Manama today, will pave the way for the establishment of new joint venture projects, a visiting Indian minister said yesterday.
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed, who arrived in Bahrain yesterday leading a high-level delegation from India, said the meeting would identify new areas of co-operation between the two countries.
"I am here to take part in the fourth meeting of the Indo-Bahrain Joint Committee for Economic and Technical Co-operation, which is being held after a gap of nine years," he told the GDN, on his arrival at Bahrain International Airport.
"The last three meetings were held at the under secretary level, and for the first time it is held at the ministerial level, with private sector participation.
"The meeting has special significance as it is held following the landmark visit of Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to India in March this year, which saw the opening of the Bahrain Embassy in New Delhi."
Mr Ahmed said India has become a key investment destination for people in the Gulf.
"Our economic interactions will have a very positive outcome, and we hope it will pave the way for the establishment of more joint venture projects," he added.
Mr Ahmed was received at the airport by his Bahraini counterpart Dr Nazar Al Baharna, Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty and leaders of the Indian community.
Dr Al Baharna said he was extremely pleased to welcome Mr Ahmed to Bahrain again.
"The joint committee was in a stagnant position for several years and we are happy to see it being revived," he added. "We are confident that new joint venture business, service and investment projects will take shape after the meeting."
The official delegation accompanying Mr Ahmed has representatives from the Ministries of External Affairs, Commerce, Industry, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Overseas Indian Affairs.
The Indian business delegation includes around 20 representatives from public sector undertakings as well as private sector companies.
These include National Small Industries Corporation, Educational Consultants India Limited, Engineers India Limited, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as well as companies from the banking, manufacturing, trading, construction and pharmaceutical sectors.
The joint committee was set up on April 28, 1981, during the first state visit of the late Amir Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to India.
The first meeting was held in Delhi in March 1986, the second one in Bahrain in November 1991, and the third one in Delhi in November 1998. The political level meeting will be held at the Foreign Ministry and the businessmen's meeting at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
"Both countries will explore the possibility of enhancing relationship in the areas of education, IT, health, and industry, with special emphasis to small and medium enterprises and the oil sector," said Mr Shetty. "The businessmen's meeting is expected to be attended by officials of BCCI and the Economic Development Board."
Among the top delegates will be External Affairs Ministry director-general Sanjay Singh, Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry director Shylaja Sharma and CII Gulf Council co-chairman Arun Patangar.
Mr Ahmed attended a reception held in his honour by the Co-ordination Committee of Indian Associations at the Palace Hotel last night. He also attended a dinner hosted by State Bank of India (SBI) regional head and chief executive officer P K Gupta at the Crowne Plaza's Bahrain Conference Centre last night.
