Syria offers export of pulses to India

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Syria has offered to export pulses to India to tide over shortage in the country.

The offer was made by the Syrian Foreign Minister Wallid Mouallem during an interface with India's Commerce Minister Kamal Nath here last evening, an offficial statement said today.

Mr Nath called for a vibrant trade basket for boosting bilateral trade between the two countries which was 488 million dollars in 2006-07.

While appreciating Syrian authorities assistance to Indian companies for getting contracts in Syria, Mr Nath apprised Mr Mouallem of difficulties faced by some Indian companies in submitting bids for tenders floated by Syria in view of the problems between Commercial Bank of Syria and some Indian banks.

Mr Kamal Nath said with the support of Syrian government, Indian investments in rock phosphates and fertilisers, cement, power sector, IT, education and agro-industries would increase in future.

India's exports to Syria during 2006-07 was 408.39 million dollars as against exports 276.67 million dollars in 2005-06, a growth of 47.61 per cent. Imports from Syria in 2006-07 was 79.55 million dolars. Most of it was of petroleum products worth 67.49 million dollars.

UNI