India, Spain discuss economic cooperation

The two sides identified infrastructure development, energy and food processing as key areas of cooperation during talks between visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Anand Sharma, India's junior minister for external affairs.

Photo: India, Spain discuss economic cooperation

Zapatero was scheduled to hold a second round of talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later Monday, said Navtej Sarna, the ministry spokesman.

Indian and Spanish officials were also scheduled to sign three agreements later Monday on political dialogue, a mutual legal assistance treaty and high technology exchanges, Sarna said.

Spain, as the fifth largest economy Europe, has chalked out a "Plan India" to boost Spanish investments in India, he said.

Bilateral trade between India and Spain has grown from around US$900 million in 2000 to US$2.7 billion  in 2005, according to Indian government trade figures.

Zapatero, who is accompanied by a 60-member business delegation, said his government hoped to make up for lost time by pushing more business ties with India, the AP reports.

Around 40 Spanish companies have a presence in India.