President Emphasises Defence &Tech Relations in Czech Republic
Special carve-out for Indian skilled workers and business executives to work and live in the Czech Republic on a long-term basis that will come into effect in October 2018 and will initially be limited to 500 visas a year, was welcomed by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind during his state visit to the Czech Republic from September 6 to 9, 2018 and he thanked President Miloš Zeman and Government of Czech Republic for that gesture.
President Kovind highlighted that Indian economy was the fastest growing large economy in the world as it grew 8.2% in the first quarter this fiscal and was now the 6th largest economy in the world and poised to become a $5 trillion economy by 2025.
President Kovind while addressing India-Czech Business Forum in Prague on September 7, 2018 said India’s growth story, Czech Republic’s technology and manufacturing prowess makes the countries ‘natural partners’ and invited Czech Republic’s defence companies to invest and manufacture in India, noting that defence was a vital area of cooperation between the two countries. Eyeing partnerships, he urged Czech enterprises to explore, initiate and expand their footprint in India, “I invite you to partner us in India’s exciting and transformative journey, which is going to usher in a new era to not only India and Czech Republic, but to the entire world”.
President Kovind emphasised 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 and added 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 led delegation level talks and 4emphasised defence and tech relations, and India and Czech Republic signed five agreements:
- 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
India and the Czech Republic have also agreed to initiate cooperation in civil nuclear energy. Details of a prospective agreement between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, Jhajjar, Haryana, and a relevant Czech institution are to be worked out.
President Zeman congratulated India on its admission to MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) and Australia Group. He reiterated Czech Republic´s strong and active support for India´s accession to Nuclear Suppliers Group, recognizing that India’s accession will add value to the aims and objectives of the NSG.
President Kovind addressed an impressive gathering of the Indian community at a reception in the evening of September 6, 2018 in Prague hosted by Smt 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.