Armenia and India discuss prospects for greater collaboration

President of Armenia Robert Kocharian is currently in India where he has met Indian Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee to discuss the prospects for closer collaboration in the area of military technology. As a Rosbalt correspondent was informed by the president's press office, the two leaders spoke of the close political ties between Armenia and India. However, they agreed that closer economic and trading ties are needed. They spoke in particular about the areas of high technology and jewelry as being the most viable areas of trade.

The Indian prime minister said his country was willing to give Armenia a grant of USD 5 million in order to develop its national agriculture. Mr Kocharian also thanked Mr Vajpayee for supporting Armenia's bid to join the North-South transportation corridor which is part of the international project TRASECA.