Nobel laureate Md Yunus and Italian PM visit Kolkata on Sunday

Kolkata, Feb 09 (UNI) This year's Nobel peace prize winner Mohammad Yunus and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will arrive here on February eleven to attend separate programmes on their two-day visit to the city.

West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta here today said during his stay as the "state guest", the father of the Cooperative Bank movement in the neighbouring country would participate in a number of programmes besides holding a meeting with Dr Dasgupta himself.

He would also meet the local media to talk more about his project, which had now become very popular in several other countries too.

Though the state government wanted to accord a formal felicitation to the Nobel laureate due to paucity of time, it could not be given to him this time, Dr Dasgupta said adding, however, Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi would host a dinner in honour of the visiting dignitary prior to his departure on February 13.

About the maiden visit of the Italian Prime Minister in the city primarily to take part in a FICCI-sponsored two-day Indo-Italian business meet from Sunday, Dr Dasgupta said Mr Prodi would also hold a business meeting with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee on February 12 besides visiting the Mother's (Teresa) House to pay homage to the departed Mother.

The Italian Prime Minister is also scheduled to visit Mother's home for destitude children 'Sishu Bhavan' before leaving for New Delhi the next day, Dr Dasgupta informed.

UNI