President leaves for Spain, Poland

New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI) President of India Pratibha Patil
Monday left on a week-long trip to Spain and Poland during
which some bilateral agreements will be signed and steps taken
to cement ties with the two countries.

Before leaving for Spain, Minister of State for
Industrial Policy and Promotion Ashwani Kumar, who is
accompanying the President, said Europe and India could forge
closer ties in the civil nuclear field.

"With India emerging as a civil nuclear power, it is
important to have closer ties between India and Europe," he
told PTI on board the aircraft.

Kumar said "discussions on economic issues are going to
be a major part of the visit."

This will be the first-ever State visit by an Indian
President to Spain and the fourth such visit to Poland. The
President is also accompanied by a business delegation
comprising members of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
(ASSOCHAM).

Economic issues and fight against terrorism are expected
to dominate the discussions between Patil and her counterparts
in those countries, specially with Spain being a victim of
terrorism.

Spain is India's sixth largest export market in the
European Union, and officials said there was a great potential
for expanding trade and investment links between India and
the European Union.

Besides meeting business delegations in Spain and Poland,
the President will also address the Indian community members
there.

Underlining the importance of both the countries, which
are instrumental in helping India to further strengthen the
growing partnership with the EU, the officials said Spain will
hold the EU Presidency next year at the time when India will
hold the Troika meeting at the ministerial level. PTI