BY TANVIR HAQ
DAMASCUS: Giving further boost to bilateral ties between the two countries, India and Syria on Sunday launched the Syria-India Business Council here. Inaugurating the Council, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil said that the business communities of both the countries should come forward to strengthen the trade and business ties between the two countries. She said that India is likely to register 8.5 percent growth in the current year, which should offer plenty of opportunities for the Syrian business community.
Both India and Syria are emerging economies that have successfully weathered the global economic crisis.
India gives high importance to strengthening of bilateral, commercial and economic links with Syria. Opening of Syria-India Business Council is another milestone in this direction. Indian companies are already involved in the development programme of Syria. India is also setting up an IT Centre of Excellence in Damascus. This would, no doubt, contribute to the growth of the IT sector in Syria. India also offered 100 million US dollars Line of Credit to Syria. This will encourage Indian companies to involve in developmental projects of Syria. The bilateral trade volume stands at a modest 530 million US Dollars with a 200 million trade surplus in favour of India.
Earlier Mrs visited AAMAL, a Syrian organisation for the disabled managed by Asma Al Assad, the First Lady of Syria. She met Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri and Speaker of Parliament Mahmoud al-Abrash also. The President also meet Indian community in Damascus and praise their contribution in strengthening bilateral ties between two nations.