Sushma Swaraj holds talks with Serbian counterpart; vows to boost trade, defence ties

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday held discussions with her Serbian counterpart Ivica Davic to bolster cooperation in key areas of industry, defence, and science and era.
The two ministers discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global problems with common passion.

Dacic's visit comes after ultimate 12 months's visit of the Serbian Prime Minister to India in January 2017.

"EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Serbian Foreign Minister Dacic had just right discussion on expanding cooperation in industry and funding, agriculture, food processing, pharma, S & T, IT, defence, tourism, civil aviation, training & tradition, and exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues.

"Expanding a detailed and historic relationship! EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes Ivica Davic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of #Serbia to India. The two international locations are celebrating 70 years of established order of diplomatic family members," External Affairs Minister Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

An agreement on cooperation in the field of tradition, sports activities, youth and mass media was signed via the two ministers, a commentary via the External Affairs Ministry.

In a lecture on the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Davic mentioned Serbia can be informed a lot from tasks comparable to Make in India, Start Up India, Smart Cities and Skill India.

He mentioned a number of Indian corporations have invested in the areas of Information Technology, agricultural machinery and vehicles.

Indian companies can make the most of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Serbia has with Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakshtan and Turkey, he mentioned.

Increasing financial activities is in mutual passion of both international locations.

India and Serbia revel in a detailed and historic relationship. Bilateral industry between India and Serbia has greater considerably lately.

According to reliable figures, bilateral industry between the two international locations was at USD 157.1 million all over January to October 2017, registering an increase of 32.2 consistent with cent as in comparison to January-October 2016.

Dacic mentioned that Serbia had eased visa norms for India since September ultimate 12 months. It had abolished visas for visiting Indian nationals, whilst India prolonged e-Visa facility to Serbian nationals.

Stating that Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are widespread personalities in Serbia, he pointed out that Belgrade has streets named after those two leaders.

"Last night I had a gathering with Tara Gandhi, the grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, and it is a breaking news in Serbia today," he mentioned regarding the warmth between the folks of the two international locations.

Responding to a query on Serbia's becoming a member of of the European Union, Dacic mentioned geographically, Serbia belongs to Europe and it's surrounded via the European Union.

"It opens up the possibilities for Serbia, primarily for financial development," he mentioned.

Dacic, then again, mentioned that Serbia want to transform a member of the European Union but, "not to the detriment of its nationwide interests and not to the detriment" of its "just right family members with friendly international locations".