|
The President of Italy H.E., Mr. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi accompanied by his wife Mrs. Franca Ciampi will pay a State Visit to India from 12-16 February 2005. He will be accompanied Mr. Gianfranco Fini, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Antonio Marzano, Minister for Productive Activities, Mr. Giuliano Urbani, Minister for Culture, Ms. Letizia Moratti, Minister for Education, University and Education, Mrs. Margherita, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and a high-level business and media delegation.
The last Presidential visit from Italy was in 1995 by Dr. Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, the then Italian President. Then Rashtrapatiji, late Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma visited Italy in October 1996.
President Ciampi and the accompanying official delegation would arrive in Delhi on the night of February 12. Rashtrapatiji would receive President Ciampi at a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan on February 14 and will host a banquet dinner in his honour. Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Leader of Opposition will call on the visiting dignitary. The various Ministers accompanying the President would be meeting their Indian counterparts separately. The President would inaugurate the Italy-India Business Forum jointly organized by CII, FICCI and CONFINDUSTRIA at Pragati Maidan on 15 February. Foreign Minister Mr. Fini would be inaugurating an art Exhibition ‘Italian Art 1950-69, Masterpieces from the Farnesina Collection’ at the National Gallery of Modern Art on 15 February 2005 in the presence of President Ciampi. The President will visit ST Micro Electronics in Noida and later inaugurate a newly built laboratory for research and vaccines at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Delhi. As part of sightseeing tour, the President will visit Qutub Minar and Taj Mahal.
An MoU on Fishery and Aqua-culture Production and an Agreement for Cooperation in Conservation of paintings of Ajanta and Ellora Caves are expected to be signed during the visit.
India’s relations with Italy are warm and friendly. Both countries share fundamental values of democracy, independent judiciary, rule of law and free press. The Italian President’s visit will provide an impetus to further consolidate bilateral relations. It will be a useful opportunity to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. With bilateral trade at US $ 2.7 billion, Italy is India’s 4th largest trading partner in the EU and ranks 12th in terms of approved investments amounting to US $ 1.31 billion from 1991- September 2004.
AK/SK/JA
|
