On September 15, continuing his official visit to India, Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics met with Andhra Pradesh Governor Ekkadu S.L. Narasimhan and expressed Latvia’s interest in building cooperation with this developed region of India, reports LETA.
The Foreign Ministry is planning to appoint a Latvian honorary consul in Hyderabad District. The Governor expressed support for Latvia’s cooperation initiatives and mentioned cooperation in the fields of energy, higher education, environmental protection and infrastructure development as offering excellent prospects.
“We know about Latvia’s success in economy and state development. We are interested in Latvia’s experience in the production of renewable energy, especially in the use of wind and water energy,” Ekkadu S.L. Narasimhan indicated. “It is important to develop tourism and cultural contacts, so that we could learn more about Latvia, and you – about India and Hyderabad District,” the governor continued.
Rinkevics informed the Indian side that Riga will be next year’s European Capital of Culture and invited representatives from Hyderabad to make use of this opportunity to introduce Latvia to India’s culture and art. University of Latvia Rector Marcis Auzins told the governor about the Hindi Language and Cultural Cooperation Center at the University of Latvia and plans for future cooperation with India’s universities.
Cooperation in education, one of the central topics of the visit, will be continued during discussions between Rinkevics, Latvian university representatives and University of Hyderabad administration and staff. Latvian and Indian university staff shared opinions on the study and research process and agreed about the exchange of students and academic staff. To facilitate further contacts, a cooperation agreement between the University of Latvia and the University of Hyderabad will be drawn up and signed in the near future.
In Hyderabad, the official delegation of Latvia and entrepreneurs had a meeting with representatives from the Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by Srinivas Ayyadevara. A great interest by the Indian business people present at the meeting was felt in possibilities for developing trade cooperation with Latvia and investing in this country. Rinkevics and Latvian business people answered questions about Latvia’s business environment, financial and tax policy and the adoption of the euro planned next year. The minister also gave interviews for the mass media, including the EENADU television company.
Today, the delegation, headed by Rinkevics, will go to the State of Tamil Nadu, where meetings will be held with the governor and representatives from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. At the University of Madras, a cooperation agreement will be signed between the University of Madras and the University of Latvia and a lecture will be delivered to outline Latvia’s view on the European Union-India relations.
Rinkevics’ stay in India will conclude with a visit to Delhi on September 18-20, when the Latvian foreign minister will be received by his counterpart, Indian External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid. Rinkevics will also meet with the country’s Indian Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari, Communications and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and deliver an address at the International Relations Institute of Jawaharlal Nehru University.
source: http://www.baltic-course.com / The Baltic Course / Home> Education & Science / BC, Riga / September 17th, 2013