Patil back from Laos, Cambodia aimed to boost Look East Policy

Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi
On Board Special Aircraft, Sep 18 (PTI) Indian
President Pratibha Patil Saturday completed her two-nation
state visit to Laos and Cambodia in a bid to deepen economic
and cultural ties with the two key ASEAN countries as part of
an effort to boost India's Look East Policy.
During the President's successful ten-day visit, lines
of credit were extended to Laos and Cambodia and important
business pacts inked.
Talking to reporters on board the special aircraft,
Patil underlined that the visit aimed at reinforcing the deep
historical and cultural ties along with efforts to build a
dynamic economic and developmental relationship with the two
nations.
"My visit to these countries was undertaken to
reinforce the deep historical and cultural ties which India
has with these countries dating back to more than 2000 years,
and to build a dynamic economic and developmental partnership
on these foundations," she said.
During her visit to Laos, which began on September 9,
India extended a line of credit worth USD 72.55 million to
finance two power projects in the country.
A Cultural Exchange Agreement for the years 2011-13
was also signed between the two nations.
Patil said Laos underlined its deep appreciation for
India's continued assistance and support for its developmental
efforts through loans and assistance in the field of human
resource development, hydropower and irrigation schemes in
particular.
"I was informed that the National Assembly of Laos has
already approved the India-ASEAN Agreement on Trade in Goods
and only some administrative formalities remain prior to its
notification," she said.
Laos, a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, has also
indicated that it looked forward to investments from the
Indian private sector.
The Aditya Birla Group and Kirloskar already have a
big presence in Laos while the Tata group is exploring
possibilities of investment in the mining sector.
A 45-member business delegation, comprising of members
of CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM, travelled with the President, and
signed MoU with the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Laos.
Patil and President Choummaly Sayasone also
participated in a virtual inauguration of the 115 KV
Paksong-Jiangxi-Bangyo transmission line project in Champasak
province of Laos, where the government of India has provided a
line of credit for USD 18 million.
The Indian President and her husband Devisingh
Shekhawat were accorded a warm welcome at Phnom Penh when they
arrived on September 13 in Cambodia for the second leg of the
10-day tour. (MORE) PTI RC
MYR


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