Montenegro, India need to advance political and economic relations, two foreign ministers stress

New Delhi, India (11 april 2012) – During his first official visit to India, Foreign Minister Milan Roćen met with his Indian counterpart Somanahalli Malliah Krishna for talks on bilateral relations, multilateral cooperation and regional affairs.

The first top-level visit to India since Montenegro restored its independence represents a new phase in reinforcing political and economic relations between the two countries which have been acknowledged as multicultural and multiconfessional societies, and market oriented economies, Foreign Minister Krishna stressed.

Foreign Minister Roćen underlined the significance of intensifying economic cooperation in many areas, namely in energy, agriculture, tourism, and culture.

In that regard, it is important to set up a joint economic committee as an institutional framework for boosting ties. It is also necessary to consolidate the legal basis in order to create all normative preconditions for linking business people and upgrading the overall cooperation, the two heads of diplomacy pointed out.

The two officials agreed on that occasion to invest joint efforts in drafting an agreement on promoting and protecting investments, as well as a civil air traffic agreement, which are to be signed during the forthcoming FM Krishna’s visit to Podgorica.

FM Roćen thanked the Indian Foreign Ministry for constant providing support and assistance to Montenegro in building capacities, making reference to the Montenegrin diplomats’ training programmes in New Delhi.

Foreign Minister Roćen also visited the Federation of indian Chambers of Commerce and discussed the possibilites of investing in Montenegro and India, and linking the two countries' business associations.