Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, May 03, 2005 |
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Government
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Security Chile to sign defence pact with India Our Bureau
Mr Jaime Ravinet (right), Chile's Minister of Defence, along with Mr Jorge Heine, Ambassador of Chile in India, during a press conference in Kolkata, on Monday. - Parth Sanyal
Kolkata , May 2 CHILE will soon sign an MoU with the Government of India on defence co-operation, particularly in R&D on defence equipment. Addressing a news conference here on Monday, Mr Jaime Ravinet, Chile Defence Minister, said his Government was keen to work with India on defence training and scientific research, especially through joint ventures, for tapping the large South American market. He, however, clarified that Chile's requirement of defence equipment was purely for defence purposes. On the progress with regard to the purchase of the HAL-developed Advanced Light Helicopter `Dhruv', Mr Ravinet said Chile was impressed by the aircraft, which has been tested thoroughly in Chilean conditions. He said no decision has yet been taken on the purchase deal with India. Mr Ravinet said a global tender would be floated in the second half of this year for buying defence equipment. The minister said talks were held with senior Ordnance Factory Board officials here. The Chilean Minister, accompanied by Mr Jorge Heine, Chile's Ambassador to India, also had talks with the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. He said the talks mainly centred around the food-processing industry, marine products and exploring Chilean participation in a cold chain project in Bengal for post-harvest produce. Sounding upbeat about the growing Indo-Chilean trade relations, Mr Heine said a major deal was signed with Sterlite in February this year for supply of 2 lakh tonnes of copper concentrate annually to Chile beginning early 2006. He said the deal, worth $260 million, was more than Chile's total exports to India during 2003. Expecting India-Chile bilateral trade to touch the $1-billion mark soon, from $526 million, Mr Heine said CSAVI, a Chilean shipping company, had set up 11 offices in India, employing around 200.
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