Latvia woos Indian investors

Bangalore, Mar 23 (UNI) Latvia has rolled out a red carpet welcome for Indian investors, spelling out the plethora of areas wherein the two nations could explore avenues of bilateral trade, especially education, communication and bio-technology.

Addressing members of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce here last night, visiting Latvian External Affairs Minister Dr Artis Pabriks said the European Union nation, with its strategic location at transit point connecting the East and West, and South and North, could offer better trade links between Asia and Europe.

He said Latvia, a former Russian Republic State, had rich potential for investment in communication, biotechnology and education. The country with a strong education base was open to Indian students pursuing higher studies there, especially in medicine, business administration and engineering.

Stating that he was here to create opportunities for opening up trade relations with India, emerging as one of the strong global economies, Dr Pabriks said Latvia was expected to sign a trade treaty with the Indian Government within a couple of months, after completing a wide range of consultations.

After getting independence from Russia, the country had undergone a lot of political and economic reforms to move from a State-owned economy to a market economy. The country was witnessing an economic growth of over ten per cent, he said.

BCIC President Anant R Koppar, also spoke on the occasion.

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