Ties strengthening! India, Czech Republic vows for cooperation in field of visa waiver, laser technology and Life Sciences
Prague, September 8: India and Czech Republic signed five important agreements and vowed for cooperation in the field of Scientific and Industrial Research, visa waiver, laser technology and Life Sciences.
Notably, President Ram Nath Kovind reached Prague on Thursday on the final leg of his state visit to three European nations including Cyprus, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
The five important MoUs were signed following the detailed talks between Indian delegations led by President Kovind and Czech Republic delegations.
During the subsequent one-to-one discussions with President Zeman, and later the delegation-level talks that both Presidents lead, President Kovind thanked his host for the warmth and hospitality with which his delegation and he had been received.
India and the Czech Republic signed five agreements as part of President Kovind’s visit are as follows:
- Cooperation between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, India, and the Czech Academy of Sciences
- A work plan to support Indo-Czech projects in diverse areas of science and technology, with the Department of Science and Technology taking the lead from the Indian side
- A visa waiver agreement for diplomatic passport holders
- Cooperation in laser technology between ELI Beamlines and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
- Cooperation between the Haryana Agricultural University and the Czech University of Life Sciences
During the discussion, President Kovind emphasized India’s keenness to cooperate with the Czech Republic in the fields of defence, technology and manufacture, business and trade, as well as on issues of multilateral importance such as terrorism.
President Kovind also noted that Czech strengths in manufacturing and advanced technology make the country a natural fit to partner Indian economic growth and next-generation development.
President Kovind, in the end, thanked the President and government of the Czech Republic for a special carve-out for mobility of high-skilled Indian workers and business executives to work and live in the Czech Republic on a long-term basis. Initially limited to 500 visas a year, the new procedure will come into effect in October 2018.
President Kovind commenced his engagements on Friday with a visit to the Prague Castle where he was received by President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman and accorded a ceremonial welcome.
Later, the President attended a luncheon banquet hosted in his honour by President Milos Zeman of the Czech Republic. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that President Zeman’s visit to India in 2001, in his capacity as Prime Minister, provided impetus to bilateral relations. The President said that the Indian growth story and Czech technology and manufacturing make us natural partners.
On Thursday evening President Kovind addressed an impressive gathering of the Indian community at a reception in Prague hosted by Narinder Chauhan, Ambassador of India to the Czech Republic. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India considers every Indian abroad as an ambassador. He urged members of the diaspora to share the beauty of India’s culture and business potential with the host community.