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A high level Italian Delegation led by their Minister for Infrastructure &Transport, Mr.Pietro Lunardi called on the Union Minister for Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, here today. Other members of the delegation included the Italian Ambassador to India, H.E.Antonio Armellini, President of the Infrastructure Commission Confederation, Mr.Marco Montagna and representatives of leading Italian construction companies. Indian delegation comprised of the Secretary Urban Development Shri.Anil Baijal, heads of Delhi metro, CPWD, NBCC, DDA,NCRPB and senior officials of Ministry Of Urban Development,Government of India.
After welcoming the dignitaries, Shri Azad expressed happiness over the progress made in the bilateral relations between the two countries in the field of trade,commerce,culture,science and technology and emphasized the need for working together in other untapped potential areas. He also said that the rapid economic growth in India has opened up innumerable opportunities for Italian businessmen to invest in India.
Shri Azad also explained to the visiting minister about various programmes executed by the government to create the infrastructural facilities like roads, transport, water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and drainage and called for Italian investments in these sectors as the resources in India are scarce. He also told them about the massive investment envisaged under the National Urban Renewal Mission to the tune of 10 billion rupees in the next four years to improve urban infrastructure and basic services. He also appraised them about the progress made in the metro rail sector and the governments thinking on popularizing public transport and discouraging private transport through the proposed urban transport policy.
The visiting minister informed the Indian delegation about the commonalities between the two countries in terms of urban growth related problems and evinced his government’s keen interest in sharing of its know-how in waste disposal, urban transport, construction activities and water supply. He also suggested that the technical experts from the two countries should meet in the next few days and work out the areas of cooperation for more investments by Italian Businessmen in India.
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