Indian delegation arrives in Astana

ASTANA. March 4. KAZINFORM /Aigul Tulekbayeva/ Kazakhstan Minister of Industry and Trade Vladimir Shkolnik and Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Ashwani Kumar discussed the issues of bilateral cooperation; Kazinform reports.

According to Ashwani Kumar, in the course of a state visit to India President Nursultan Nazarbayev named the priority spheres of cooperation: coal industry, food, oil and gas, pharmacy and information technologies. ?We will hold a close dialogue and confirm our intention to encourage our cooperation?, A.Kumar said. He added, that apart from officials, representatives of business circles also entered the Indian delegation. The Indian party expressed interest in setting up joint pharmaceutic businesses. India is known to be the world's largest pharmaceutic manufacturer. Indian companies occupy a certiain niche in the market. However, the Minister added, the share of supplies of Indian pharmaceuticals is decreasing, and it is necessary to set up joint production. According to Vladimir Shkolnik in 2001 Kazakhstan and India entered into an Agreement on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments. ?Our investments are protected at the level of interstate treaty?, he emphasized.