Indo-Polish joint commission on economic cooperation meets 27/05/2008, FICCI Shri Ajay Shankar, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy

and Promotion, cochaired the First Session of the Indo-Polish Commission on Economic Cooperation in New Delhi on Tuesday along with Mr. Adam Szenjfeld, Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy, Republic of Poland. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Ajay Shankar informed the Polish side about the positive investment climate in India as also the investment opportunities in various sectors. A Protocol was signed by Shri Ajay Shankar and Mr. Adam Szenjfeld underlying to resolve to cooperate in several spheres of mutual interest. It was decided that both sides would facilitate exchange of business delegations and interactions besides participation in trade fairs and international exhibitions in order to help create a mutually beneficial partnership, particularly in automobiles, automotive components, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, coal, food processing, nonconventional energy, electrical equipments etc. Cooperation was also sought in the field of IT and e-Governance. A wide range of issues including bilateral trade and investments and cooperation in industrial and scientific fields between the two countries were taken up during the session. It was emphasized that the level of economic engagement between the two countries, in terms of trade and investment relations, should increase. India's export to Poland was US$ 306.02 million in 2006-07 while its import was US$ 117.11 million. India has received FDI of US $ 2.00 million from Poland so far. Some of the major Polish companies that have investments in India are TZMO S.A. and Polfarma. Prominent Indian names in Poland are Videocon, Ranbaxy, Mittal Steel, Reliance Industries etc. Following Poland's accession to the European Union in 2004, India and Poland signed a new Agreement in Budapest on May 19, 2006 whereby it was decided to establish the Joint Commission afresh to discuss the development of, identify new possibilities for and draw up suggestions and proposals for economic cooperation. The Polish delegation included Mr. Marian Zalewski, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Mr. Krzysztof Hubert Faszkiewicz, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Treasury, besides a host of officials from Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and, Polish Investment Promotion Agency and businessmen. The official Indian delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries and others. The Polish business delegation comprised representatives from ZMM-KOPEX Group, FAMUR Group, Polish Oil & Gas Company, Geofizyka Toru, BUMAR Group and SIGMA. The Indian business side was organized by the apex Industry Association, FICCI and included speakers like Shri Madhu Kotak, Chairman, FICCI India-Poland Joint Business Council and Shri Rajan Kohli, Deputy Secretary General, FICCI. (With inputs from Ministry of Commerce & Industry)

Ajay Shanker is new DIPB Secy

Our Bureau New Delhi, July 26 The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointments of Mr Ajay Shanker presently Principal Adviser, Planning Commission as Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. He will be succeeding Mr Ajay Dua. Mr Pradeep Kumar, presently Chairman, National Highways Authority of India, Department of Road Transport and Highways, has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Disinvestment, Ministry of Finance. Mr Vijay Singh, presently Secretary, Department of Road Transport and Highways will become Defence Secretary after Mr Shekhar Dutt. Ms Sheela Bhide, presently Special Secretary and Financial Adviser, Ministry of External Affairs has been appointed as Chairperson, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Department of Commerce.
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