Italian PM to address India-Italy Buisness Forum in Mumbai

New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will address a high-level India-Italy Business Forum being jointly organised in Mumbai tomorrow.

Mr Prodi will deliver the keynote address at the Forum, which will also be Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh, Ms Emma Bonino, Italian Minister of International Trade and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

There is a growing realisation in Italy of the importance of India as a trade and economic partner, and the visit of the Italian Prime Minister at the head of a high-level delegation comprising 150 government and business decision makers is being seen as an important milestone in the expansion and strengthening of bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries.

Among the important initiatives taken recently was the meeting of the India-Italy Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation which was held its 7th meeting in Rome in November 2006, where it was decided to set up a Joint Working Group to improve bilateral cooperation in infrastructure.

It was also decided to promote Brand India in Italy and Brand Italy in India through business events and exchange of business delegations. The dialogue was carried forward as a prelude to Premier Prodi's visit when Ms Bonino had a bilateral meeting with Mr Nath in New Delhi in January 2007.

The major sectors of bilateral cooperation envisaged include infrastructure, IT, telecommunications, industrial machinery, healthcare, textiles and garments, gems and jewellery, fashion design, leather, food processing, energy, automobile and auto components, and tourism.

The Forum meeting, being organised by business chambers ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI from the Indian side along with their Italian counterparts -- CONFIDUSTRIA, Instituto Nazionale per il Commercio Estero and ABI (Assozione Bancaria Italiana).

UNI