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Prodi asks India to lead in breaking WTO impasse
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, February 11
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi today said it was in India’s interest to play a leadership role in breaking the impasse in the recently re-started talks of the Doha round of multilateral trade agreement.

Talking to newsmen during his visit to the city, Mr Prodi said the impasse was damaging all countries, be it India, the USA or Europe. “This is what is needed to be understood,” he said, adding a speedy conclusion of the talks would be in the interests of India also. During his visit here he also visited Infosys as well as a new ISRO facility, which is running Italian high-tech machinery. Expanding further on the same theme, the Italian Prime Minister said India had got where it was due its to traditional trade. This is the case also with the US and Europe. “India should support this movement by taking a leadership role which other developing countries could follow.”

Prodi, who is here along with a large business delegation, had to cut short his two-day visit to one day only due to a bandh call given over the Cauvery water issue by various Kannada organisations. He was, however, able to visit Infosys as well as an ISRO facility, which has installed a 6.5 m dia comprehensive assembly, test and thermo-vacuum chamber, supplied by an Italian company on a turnkey basis.

Appreciating the rapid strides made by India in its space programme, he said Italy was ready to cooperate further with ISRO on technology issues. The Italian Prime Minister evaded giving a direct answer to a question whether Italy supported India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. He said this was a delicate matter and that Italy on its part was still discussing the issue with India.

Indo-Italian ties set to gain momentum
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 11
When Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi arrives here on Wednesday after his visits to Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkatta and Mumbai, detailed groundwork would have been completed to impart a momentum to Indo-Italian ties, which had been stagnating for the last few years.

Apart from the two memorandum of understanding (MOUs) for setting up a joint working group (JWG) on combating international terrorism and trans-national crimes and on renewable energy cooperation that the two countries would conclude during his six-day visit, a framework for expanding business and trade ties would be ready to provide a direction to the economic relationship, which in the past were known with internationally renowned Italian brands like Fiat, Lambretta etc.

Mr Prodi, accompanied by a big business delegation, held wide ranging discussions in Chennai on Saturday and then interacted today with Infosys staff for a closer cooperation in the field of information technology.

The visiting Prime Minister also paid a visit to ISRO from Bangalore, Mr Prodi would proceed to Kolkatta, where he would visit Mother Teresa’s Centre. The University of Kolkatta would honour him with a degree. During his stay in the West Bengal capital, the visiting Prime Minister would attend an economic seminar before leaving for Mumbai.

In Mumbai, Mr Prodi would attend a business forum meeting and then would interact with Indian and Italian business leaders. During his two-day stay in Delhi, Mr Prodi would hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on bilateral, regional and international issues, which would include latest Doha round of talks.