Putin urges India to lift restraints in Internet cooperation.

12/3 Tass 211

NEW DELHI, March 12 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin, currently on a visit to India, said on Friday development of joint
Internet high tech projects was a top priority in Russia's relations with
India and urged the latter to lift restraints in this sphere for Russian
companies.
"It (Internet projects) is a priority in our development. But we
(Russia) have much less restraints," Putin said at a meeting with Indian
businessmen.
According to the Russian prime minister, Indian laws set limits for
foreign participation in Indian companies, which hampers the development
of partner relations.
"We have restraints, but not in the sphere of Internet technologies,"
said an Indian businessman.
"Yes, you have. Ask your colleague," Putin replied pointing to head of
Russia's AFK Sistema telecom company Vladimir Yevtushenkov.
The Russian prime minister also noted that many questions Indian
businessmen might have could be settled in direct cooperation with Deputy
Prime Minister Sergei Sobyanin, who co-chairs the Russian-Indian
intergovernmental commission.
Favourable investment climate has been created in Russia and the world'
s largest companies are active on the Russian market, Putin noted and
added that the two countries had about 400 joint projects in the research
sphere. "If these projects were applied in business, it would be
interesting," he said.
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