Karzai for cooperation in education, business, remote sensing

Hyderabad, Apr 11 (UNI) Evincing keen interest in using remote sensing technique in various fields including telemedicine Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai today called for joint ventures in education and business between his country and India.

Visting the Hitech city here Mr Hamid, who was on a two-day visit here with a 80-member delegation, said ''Now we welcome joint ventures in the field of education and business between India and Afghanistan. We expect investments to be made in Afghanistan by your companies'' Impressed with the power-point presentation made by National Remote Sensing Agency(NRSA) Director K Radhakrishnan here, giving an overview of the Indian Space programme which touched the lives of all sections of people, the visiting President said ''as we move forward towards providing better education to our children in villages, we want to use the remote sensing technique.'' Observing that remote sensing technique found application in all walks of life, Mr Karzai said he was keen on using the technique in improving farm productivity, disaster management and exploring mineral wealth.

Replying to a question from an Afghan reporter, The visting dignitary expressed doubts over the effectiveness of satellite imageries in protecting his country from increasing incidents of violence.

Later in the night, the President, who was accompanied by, among others, Afghan Acting Minister for Higher Education Suraiya, Afghan Minister for Rural Development and Rehabilitation Mohd. Hanif Atmar and Afghanistan Charge d' Affaires Abdul Hai Khurasani, was hosted a dinner by Governor Rameshwar Thakur.

On his arrival, Mr Karzai was received at Hyderabad airport by Andhra Pradesh Governor Rameshwar Thakur and Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

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