India, Guyana can work together for nation building
-President Kalam
Stabroek News
January 9, 2004

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President Bharrat Jagdeo (C) inspects an honour guard during a ceremonial welcome at the Indian Presidential Palace in New Delhi yesterday. Jagdeo arrived in India on Wednesday for a week-long official visit. (REUTERS/B Mathur)

Offering Indian expertise in the fields of agriculture and pharmaceuticals, President A.P.J Abdul Kalam said India and Guyana could work together in the common task of nation building.

Kalam was speaking at a banquet he hosted in honour of visiting President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday at his presidential palace in New Delhi.

Jagdeo who is on a state visit to India, will be the chief guest at the three-day Indian Diaspora Day conference that starts today.

The banquet followed delegation level talks between the visiting Guyanese leader and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Hyderabad House on strengthening bilateral co-operation.

Kalam noted the Guyanese president was the only head of state of Indian origin gracing the occasion this year.

"Guyana is endowed with rich untapped natural resources and has emerging infrastructural requirements," Kalam noted. He proposed assistance in the development of Guyana's sugar industry in view of India's competence in the sector. "Our two countries share a common approach on many issues on the international agenda," said Kalam. "Our cooperation at various multilateral forums has been very positive."

Hoping the dynamic interaction between the two countries would continue, Kalam said: "We have to explore new horizons while keeping our feet planted on the ground."

He said he appreciated Guyana's support for India's bid for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council.

(Indo-Asian News Service)