Bahrain Crown Prince to visit India from March 19-22

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) Bahrain's Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa will pay a four-day official visit to India from March 19-22 for discussions with Indian leaders on strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in various areas.

The visit, at the invitation of Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, is expected to ''substantially strengthen bilateral ties and enhance the multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries,'' a spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry said today.

During the visit, the Crown Prince will meet Indian dignitaries and Ministers and inaugurate Bahrain's Embassy here.

He will also deliver an address at the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA).

Besides Delhi, Shaikh Salman will visit Agra and later fly to Mumbai. He will address business meetings both in Delhi and Mumbai.

The Crown Prince will be accompanied by his Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Industry and Commerce, senior officials as well as by a high-powered business delegation.

Prime Minister of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, had visited India in January 2004 during which several significant agreements were signed.

Earlier, the Amir of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, visited India in April 1981 and again in March 1983 to attend the 7th Non-Aligned Movement Summit.

Bilateral trade was about 575 million US Dollars in 2005 with Indian exports being 157 million Dollars and imports worth 418 million.

There are several Indian public and private sector companies in Bahrain. About 260,000 Indians live and work in Bahrain.

UNI