Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

India, Italy to sign MoUs on terror, energy

February 10, 2007 16:29 IST
India and Italy will sign two Memoranda of Understanding for setting up a Joint Working Group on Combating International Terrorism and trans-national crimes and on Renewable Energy Cooperation during the ongoing visit of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

The two countries will also sign a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2007-09.

The Italian prime minister, who arrived in Chennai on Saturday on a six-day official visit  to India, will have talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on February 15 on bilateral, regional and international issues.

He will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vice President Bhairon Singh  Shekhawat and meet Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The prime minister will hold a banquet dinner in honour of Dr Prodi. The two leaders will also meet the Indo-Italian CEO Forum.

He will also inaugurate the office of Italian State Television.

Dr Prodi will also visit Karnataka, Mumbai and West Bengal.

In Chennai, he will visit the University of Madras and meet Indian entrepreneurs. He will have a meeting with the Tamil Nadu Governor.

In Bangalore on Sunday, the Italian Prime Minister will visit ISRO and Infosys and have a meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In Kolkata, he will be conferred an honourary doctorate by the University of Kolkata on Monday. On Tuesday, he will attend an Economic Seminar and meet West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.

Dr Prodi who will be in Mumbai on Tuesday and Wednesday where he will attend a  business forum meeting and meet the Maharashtra Governor.

He will be in Delhi on Thursday. Italy is among India's top five trading partners in the EU and 11th largest investment partner.

The previous high-level visit from Italy to India was that of the President Carlo Azegli Ciampi in February 2005.

Source: source image