LITHUANIA AND INDIA ARE AIMING AT THE FACILITATION OF CONDITIONS FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION
On 15 April, Undersecretary of Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė and Ambassador of India to Lithuania Chandra Mohan Bhandari, who resides in Warsaw, discussed perspectives of bilateral economic relations and consular issues.
A.Skaisgirytė Liauškienė indicated that Lithuania saw India as its priority partner in the South Asian region.
“We welcome the strengthening bilateral relations and expect a more active cooperation in the future,” said Undersecretary of the Ministry A.Skaisgirytė Liauškienė.
The Lithuanian Embassy in Delhi started issuing Schengen visas and national Lithuanian visas on 10 April. Issuance of visas for citizens of India will facilitate travelling to Lithuania and will contribute to the strengthening of bilateral economic relations. An increasing number of India’s businessmen care for business possibilities in Lithuania. As a sign of such interest, an international exhibition “Made in India” is expected to take place on 7-9 May in Vilnius.
India is an important trade partner of Lithuania. In 2008, volumes of foreign trade between Lithuania and India grew significantly. Lithuanian exports to India amounted to 923.1 million Litas in 2008. As compared to the same period in 2007, exports increased by 2704.2 percent. The reason of such a big growth in export volumes was the increase of fertiliser exports.
Lithuania’s import from India amounted to 87.5 million Litas in 2008.
Ambassador of India C.M.Bhandari acquainted A.Skaisgirytė Liauškienė with the political and financial situation in India. On 16 April, the procedure for the election of the Parliament starts in India. India is the world’s biggest democracy. Therefore, the election is scheduled in five rounds. It is expected that the final results will be announced on 16 May.
During the meeting, reconstruction of Afghanistan, possibilities to cooperate while implementing projects in Ghor Province were discussed. India together with the U.S.A., the European Union, Japan and Iran are among the most important donors for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. In 2001-2008, the Government of India allotted 1.2 billion US dollars for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. In 2008, Lithuania allotted 4.3 million Litas for development cooperation projects in Ghor Province, and in 2009 it plans to allot about 3 million Litas.
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