by Soman babay/Gulf Daily News
Bahrain, Nov 15: India is to join hands with Bahrain to ensure that the fruits of economic development reach the common people in both countries, a visiting Indian minister said yesterday.
Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed also welcomed Bahrain's participation in the opportunities that exist in the areas of infrastructure and power development in India as well as in the fertiliser sector through joint ventures.
He urged the Bahrain government to sign a memorandum of understanding on manpower at the earliest.
Mr Ahmed was speaking at the opening of the fourth meeting of the Bahrain-India Joint Committee on Economic and Technical Co-operation.
The meeting at the Foreign Ministry yesterday was attended by Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty and the delegation accompanying the Indian minister.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Nazar Al Baharna led the Bahraini side, which included the Foreign Ministry Assistant Under-Secretary Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Bahrain Ambassador to India Mohammed Ghassan Shaikho, Foreign Ministry director of bilateral relations Dr Dhafer Al Umran and other officials.
Dr Al Baharna said Bahrain attached great importance to its long-standing strong ties with India.
"The official visit of Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to India in March this year gave a new impetus to our relationship," said Dr Al Baharna.
"The two-day joint committee meeting being held after a gap of nine years will not only follow up on some of the existing agreements, but may also result in the establishments of new ties in areas like investment, finance, aviation, culture, education and the oil sector."
The last such meeting was held nine years ago in November 1998 in New Delhi.
"Our mandate for this visit is to enhance to the maximum extent possible our economic and technical links with Bahrain," said Mr Ahmed.
"This will help us not only in our mutual economic development, but ensure that the fruits of this development reach the common peoples in both countries."
Mr Ahmed said a number of agreements were signed between India and Bahrain during the visit of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to India in 2004.
"All constitutional formalities have been completed on our side in respect of the bilateral agreement for promotion and protection of investment," he revealed.
"We shall be shortly notifying the Bahrain government and the agreement will enter into force 30 days after its receipt by Bahrain."
It was agreed to revive the joint committee and hold the fourth meeting in Bahrain during the visit of the Crown Prince to India, said Mr Ahmed.
"New opportunities have arisen for both countries due to opening of the Indian economy on the one hand and the globalisation of the Bahraini economy on the other," he said.
Mr Ahmed said it may be useful if Indian companies are pre-qualified to bid for projects, to facilitate the participation of its world-class companies in various projects coming up in Bahrain.
Mr Ahmed suggested Bahrain to co-operate with India in the field of education as India has over 350 universities, 17,000 colleges and more than 1500 engineering colleges alone.