Ahamed to visit Tunisia

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed will visit Tunisia to attend the two-day Joint Commission meeting there on February 7-8 and for holding discussions with Tunisian leaders on strengthening bilateral ties.

The Minister, who will be heading a delegation of political leaders, told UNI that he would hold discussions on various projects.

He will also visit Morocco to ''renew and further strengthen'' bilateral relations, India and Tunisia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in information technology (IT) and telecommunications.

The MoU envisages setting up of a Joint Working Committee (JWG) for cooperation and exchange of information on certification rules and procedures.

The two countries on September 30 called for Joint Proposals for Cooperation in the fields of Science and Technology for 2006-2008 between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Tunisian Ministry of Scientific Research, Technology and Competency Development (MSRTCD).

Under the programme of cooperation, Indian and Tunisian universities, research centers and institutes would submit joint proposals for scientific and technological research and development projects.

Priority areas would be Bio-technology, Water Technology, Information Science, including Software Develop-ment, Renewable Energy Sources, Medical Sciences, including Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Science Popularisation.

The two countries also cooperate against crime and terrorism and have signed an Extradition Treaty in 2000.

UNI