Indomania replaces Sinomania in Europe

New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) India is now a more preferred country than China to do business with, a European delegation head said today.

Mr Jean Besson, however, wanted New Delhi to do a lot more on the environment front.

''India is contributing to global warming... and it can make use of the best of European environmental expertise,'' said the French Senator, who is heading a delegation of the 'Four Motors for Europe', the leading regions in their respective countries.

The four regions are Rhone-Alpes (France), Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany), Lombardy (Italy) and Catalonia (Spain).

Mr Besson. who has come with political leaders, performing companies and scientific consultants to share their environmental expertise and technologies, said India and not China is the fashion in Europe.

''India is the mood in France.... Earlier it was Sinomania (craze for China), now it is Indomania,'' he told UNI.

Asked why they wanted to do business with India, he said India was one of the fastest growing economies in the world and would be at the top in the next 20 years.

''We are looking for a balanced world.... We don't want one country to run the world,'' he said in an indirect reference to the United States.

On the Indo-US civil nuclear energy pact, he said nuclear energy was a clean fuel and a good solution for solving the energy problem.

''But one should be careful about the security aspect,'' he said.

Mr Besson said the engagement between India and the European regions on environment and sustainable development would open opportunties for business in new areas.

''We can cooperate in wind energy, solar energy and biomass fuel,'' he said.

UNI