Patil to discuss anti-terror strategy, investment with Spain

Priyanka Tikoo

Madrid, Apr 21 (PTI) Forging bilateral strategies to
combat terrorism, boosting trade and investments and
consolidating ties with the European Union will be high on the
agenda as President Pratibha Patil starts high-level parleys
with the Spanish leadership here today.

Patil, who arrived in Spanish capital Monday night with
a delegation comprising Minister of State for Commerce and
Industry Ashwani Kumar and senior officials of the Ministry of
External Affairs, will hold meetings with King Juan Carlos I
and Queen Sofia later in the day.

Maintaining that both Spain and India are victims of the
scourge of terrorism, the President told reporters onboard her
aircraft that the two countries share the common challenges
and the common determination to strengthen the forces of
peace, security and development.

Though the issue of terrorism will be high on the agenda
of deliberations between the leaders of India and Spain, "it
has to be seen what the other country brings to the table
during the talks," officials said.

The visit comes in the backdrop of reports of presence of
al-Qaeda's network in Spain, which is also suffering at the
hands of Basque group ETA, which has been identified as a
terrorist outfit by the Spanish government.

India and Spain have agreed "in principle" to work
closely on bilateral strategies to combat the menace and the
process is "underway", Kumar said.

Patil also said, "there are concrete opportunities for
much more trade and investment, especially in this time of
global financial and economic difficulty since we have clear
complementarities that can be exploited."

"My visit to Spain and Poland will also help consolidate
our rapidly developing relations with Europe and European
Union. The European Union is a strategic partner of India and
we are in the process of implementing a comprehensive Joint
Action Plan," she added.

The officials accompanying the President said efforts
would also be made to seek more Spanish investments in India
citing its large market and booming economy.

"The total FDI by Spain annually is about Euro 90
billion, so we are going to make a strong bid and ask them to
invest parts of it in India also," an official said, adding,
the President's visit also goes to show the level of
seriousness on New Delhi's part on the issue.

It was a "conscious decision on the part" of India to
undertake this visit to seek attention from Spain and Poland,
which are fast-growing economies in the EU, officials said.

Giving details of bilateral investments so far, they said
while investments from India to Spain to date is Euro 620
million, the total Spanish investments in India is to the tune
of Euro 306 million only. The key areas in which investments
can be made include agriculture, infrastructure and real
estate development, they added.

During her visit, Patil will also address business
delegations and meet Indian community members. PTI