Belgian PM arrives, to sign 3 pacts with India

New Delhi, Nov 2: Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt arrived here this evening on a six-day official visit to India for holding discussions on increasing bilateral trade and investment.

He was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.

During the visit, the two countries will sign three pacts including an agreement on social security to bolster investment of Indian companies in Belgium. The agreement will provide Indian businessmen social security benefits and facilitate visa procedures.

The three pacts also include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Science and Technology.

The signing of the pacts will be preceded by official talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on various issues of bilateral interest.

Tomorrow morning, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will call on him. This will be followed by a call on by Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

He will also address a meeting of representatives of Indian Industry at a function organised by the CII/FICCI/ASSOCHAM.

He will later meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and call on President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Mr Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technology will also call on him.

After the day-long official engagements, the Belgian Prime Minister will leave for Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai on November four.

UNI