India, Kazakhstan to expand cooperation in hydrocarbon sector

Astana, Kazakhstan, Apr 7 (UNI) India and Kazakhstan today agreed to take concrete steps to expand cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector with an aim to help New Delhi meet its growing energy requirements.

The two sides agreed to expand mutual cooperation in areas of energy (hydrocarbon), food production and information technology sectors.

This was agreed in a meeting between visiting Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov, which was also attended by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed and senior officials.

The two countries had already concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2006, but no concrete progress was realised in the energy sector.

It is hoped that ONGC and Kazakh Oil companies would soon take measures to identify projects for joint ventures.

The two sides also agreed on enhancing the exchange of visits at various levels.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has been invited to visit India and dates were being finalised in this regard.

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