Speaking to Polish journalists after his meeting with Minister Sharma, Sikorski (pictured left) underlined that he is the first Polish head of diplomacy to travel to India since 1989 on an official visit, following last year’s trip by Prime Minister Donald Tusk to India.
While Minister Sharma took to the issue of Indian agricultural exports to the EU, Sikorski was joined by a delegation of Polish business representatives who told Polish Radio that Indian companies are interested in Poland’s defence industry.
“Our experience with the modernisation of post-Soviet military equipment, its effective implementation, as well as positive reviews by Polish and foreign users are all a very good reference,” Cezary Szczepanski, deputy head of Bumar, a Polish weapons manufacturer told Polish Radio.
Piotr Ostaszewski, the head of Lubawa SA, a ballistics outfit, also commented by saying that his company’s products have proven effective in the most difficult conditions.
“Our products have been used in missions in Chad, Iraq and Afghanistan,” Ostaszewski says.
According to Polish figures, trade between India and Poland amounted to 1.3 billion US dollars in 2010, with Indian exports to Poland reaching some 977 million US dollars, and Polish exports to India amounting to 334 million US dollars.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will hold talks with Sikorski on a number of issues, including trade and investment, defence, terrorism, the EU as well as UN reforms.
At the talks, Sikorski is set to underline his support for India’s claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, as well as seek closer collaboration in fighting terrorism arising from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region.
“The UN Security Council should reflect the co-relation of forces in the world and India, the most populous democracy in the world, is a natural member of the Security Council,” Sikorski told The Hindu, an Indian daily, in an interview ahead of his visit. (jb)
Source: IAR/PAP/IANS