India, Syria committed to economic reforms: Patil

NEW DELHI - Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has said that her country and the Syrian Arab Republic are both committed to economic reforms and to achieving higher growth rates.

Speaking in an interview with the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) in New Delhi before departing on a nine-day visit to the United Arab Emirates and the Syrian Arab Republic, Patil said: “Both India and Syria are committed to economic reforms and are aiming at higher rates of growth, with a view to improving the standard of life of the people.”

“Economic liberalization envisages greater role for private sector participation in development. I agree that the investment climate in both our countries is encouraging and favorable. India would be keenly interested in participation in the fertilizer sector, an important means of ensuring food security for the people of India,” she added.

She further said: “Other sectors where Indian companies have proved themselves and are interested in overseas investment opportunities are petroleum, power, steel, power transmission, oil and gas pipelines, railways, transport, etc.”

“The large business delegation that is accompanying will be meeting their Syrian counterparts with a view to identifying investment and market opportunities in Syria. I am confident that this would lead to greater economic engagement between our two countries,” she said. (ANI)