European Business

New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) A 'European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC)' will start operations from October 1 this year to enhance business and technology cooperation between European Union (EU) and India.

''We expect it to foster links between European and Indian businesses as well as between Science and Technology actors with the view to promote the EU with an interest in India and respond to the demands of the Indian market,'' Mr Daniele Smadja, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to India told reporters here.

''Through this Centre, we are committed to promote sustainable clean technologies in India,'' he said.

A financing contract for setting up this centre was signed today between Mr Smadja and Mr Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of Eurochambres.

The Centre will primarily focus on sectors such as environment, transport, energy and bio-techonology, he said.

With an initial budget of about eight million euro, the Centre will build synergies among the Chambers of Commerce of EU Member States already established in India, besides collaborating with the existing European business associations in India and Europe.

It will also interface between public policy makers and private actors apart from raising awareness about the existing European programmes in the field of Science and Technology as well as business and industry cooperation.

UNI MP SBA NS1644