India, Cuba to discuss NAM-related activities

New Delhi, Apr 10 (UNI) Cuba, currently the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and India will hold discussions during the next two days on the issues before the NAM and activities related to it under Cuba's leadership.

Cuba's Minister of External Relations, Felipe Perez Roque, who arrives here tomorrow on his first-ever visit to India, will hold talks with Indian leaders on strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation in various areas, besides the activities related to the NAM.

The Cuban Minister, who will be accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Marcos Rodrigues Costa and senior officials, will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma.

''In these meetings, there will be discussions for strengthening of bilateral relations, which are historical and friendly,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said today.

The bilateral cooperation, covering a number of areas, including agriculture, science and technology, sports, health and energy, was reviewed and expanded in the sixth Indo-Cuban Joint Commission meeting held in Havana in February, 2006.

The Cuban Government has awarded two off-shore oil exploration blocs directly and another six blocs as part of a Consortium to ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL).

Two Indian bio-tech companies--Biocon and Panacea--have established joint ventures in India for manufacture of bio-tech products with technology transfer from Cuba.

India provides 50 ITEC training scholarships every year to Cuba and has set up an IT Training Centre in Havana which was inaugurated in September, 2006.

Cuba has been providing coaches to India in sports and games.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in Sports was signed during the visit of the Minister of Sports Mani Shankar Aiyar in February.

Cuba has been the Chairman of NAM since September 2006 after the NAM Summit which was attended by the Prime Minister.

UNI