The Hindu Business Line : To help develop Bangalore utilities sector — Belgium keen to share expertise with India

Prince Philippe of Belgium shakes hands with Mr Basavaraj S. Horatti, Karnataka's Minister for Science and Technology, at a joint business lunch with the Belgium Economic Mission to India, in Bangalore on Wednesday. Also seen are Mr S. Chandrasekhar, President of the Bangalore Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Ms Fientje Moerman, Vice-Minister-President, Flemish Government. - G.R.N. Somashekar

Bangalore , March 16

BELGIUM is keen to share its expertise with India in the utilities sector, public transport and telecom, besides engineering and advanced technologies.

"We are keen to provide our expertise in the utility sector, telecom, water management, public transport and lay special emphasis on engineering and advanced technologies in robotics and space," the Crown Prince of Belgium Prince Philippe told industrialists here on Wednesday.

Bangalore is facing several challenges due to its fast-paced growth, he said, adding that his country could help in the development of the utilities sector.

Prince Philippe, who is leading a Belgian delegation of industry leaders, said several joint venture opportunities are being explored in these sectors.

Prince Philippe and the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr Dharam Singh, signed an MoU on closer business co-operation.

Belgium is looking at expanding its trade ties with India beyond gems and jewellery, targeting the biotechnology, IT and chemicals sectors. Earlier at an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) seminar, Mr Dominique Michel, Secretary-General of Agoria, said the Belgian ICT sector is in search of niche markets, knowledge and flagships. Belgian companies are keen to explore tie-ups with Indian firms, he said. In the ICT sector, the trade balance between India and Belgium is tilted in favour of the latter. Belgium exported ICT products such as IT hardware and office equipment, electronic components, telecom equipment and consumer electronic goods, worth 23 million euros, to India in 2003. However, its import of ICT products from India stood at 4.87 million euros during the same period. Mr Anant Koppar, President, Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce, highlighting the growth of the Indian IT industry, said the thrust areas for co-operation for both the countries would be in areas of ICT, human resource development, biotechnology and healthcare.

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