Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-02-08

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] FinMin, Indian counterpart, discuss content of two bilateral agreements in New Delhi

[02] Informal NATO DMs meeting in Spain

[01] FinMin, Indian counterpart, discuss content of two bilateral agreements in New Delhi

Alogoskoufis later invited Greek and Indian businessmen to collaborate in the commercial, tourism and investments sector, adressing a conference jointly organised by the Hellenic Exports Promotion Organisation (HEPO) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) that was attended by leading Indian entrepreneurs.

During their meeting the two ministers also discussed the economic situation of their two countries, the liberalisation of international trade, and the prospects for promoting the relations between Greece and India.

Alogoskoufis told reporters after the meeting that they also discussed the prospects of the Indian economy, the growth rate of which exceeds 9 percent, stressing that India was the third largest economy in the world.

"It was a very interesting meeting, as the Finance Minister of India is a very well-known politician and has for years been taking part in the reforms programme of the Indian economy," Alogoskoufis said.

He said that they further discussed the planned agreement for the promotion of investments, as well as an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, and also ways of rendering relations between the two countries closer.

The Greek minister also stressed that there were very large prospects in the tourism sector as well, given that India's middle-class travels frequently and Greece could become a very good tourism destination for them.

Alogoskoufis further briefed Chidambaram on the developments in Southeastern Europe and Greece's role in the region, which he said afforded very big opportunities for investments and development.

The Indian economy is becoming increasingly extroverted, and this was of great importance to Greece, since it entailed big opportunities for even closer economic relations with India, Alogoskoufis noted.

Alogoskoufis departed Wednesday for an official visit to India, at the head of a large business delegation, aimed at promoting bilateral trade relations.

After his meeting with Chidambaram, Alogoskoufis addressed the country's leading entrepreneurs at a conference organised by the Hellenic Exports Promotion Organisation (HEPO) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The Greek minister will also meet with Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, while the Greek business delegation members will meet with their Indian counterparts.

On Friday, Alogoskoufis will meet with Indian reporters and afterwards he will hold a meeting with India's Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath. Later in the afternoon of the same day, he will give a press conference and attend the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) and the Confederation of Indian Industr (CII).

Invitation for Greek-Indian business collaboration

Alogoskoufis later Thursday invited Greek and Indian businessmen to collaborate in the commercial, tourism and investments sector, adressing a conference jointly organised by the Hellenic Exports Promotion Organisation (HEPO) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) that was attended by leading Indian entrepreneurs.

He said he considered as "very satisfactory" the fact that the business and economic relations between Greece and India were being constantly strengthened, and the fact that even more can be achieved in that field. "We can work more closely in a wide range of activities and further take advantage of the benefits of the global economic integration," he said.

Alogoskoufis further noted that SE Europe was becoming a more homogenous and more integrated market, adding that Greece was playing a central role in the development of this region.

Greece affords advantages to the Indian companies and significant opportunities to investors, given that any prospective investor can acquire access to the 3,600 Greek enterprises active in the Balkans and eastern Europe, the Greek minister said.

Also, investors can acquire access to a wide network of banks with more than 1,000 branches, as well as take advantage of Greece's geopolitical position as a transit hub for commerce, he added.

At the same time, Alogoskoufis continued, the Greek economy was evolving into a dynamic, open and more competitive economy, as it was becoming more friendly to entrepreneurship and more auspicious for business activity.

Outlining the achievements of the Greek economy in recent years, Alogoskoufis stressed that "Greece can become the entrance gate for Indian businesses seeking to acquire a presence in the region".

[02] Informal NATO DMs meeting in Spain

In this framework, the alliance's defence ministers met with their Afghan counterpart, Abdul Rahim Wardak.Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis represented Greece at the meeting.

Meimarakis confirmed the country's support for the efforts of the international community and of NATO for the consolidation of a climate of security and stability in Afghanistan to enable the country's social and economic development, stressing the need for coordinating efforts in this direction.

Referring to developments in Kosovo, Meimarakis pointed to the need for keeping KFOR at the present high level of operational readiness, reiterating Greece's intention to maintain military and police forces in the region.

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