Pranab Mukherjee is off to Libya, to attend EU meet later

NEW DELHI: With Parliament out of the way and the UPA government’s third anniversary party completed, foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee is off on landmark visit to Libya. On the way he will stop over in Cyprus, and while returning he will participate in the Asia-Europe meet in Hamburg and also attend the India-EU foreign minister’s meeting in Brussels. He will take the opportunity to hold a bilateral meeting with Germany’s foreign minister in Berlin.

Mukherjee’s visit to Libya will be his first to the African continent, indicating how little importance is given to that part of the world by India’s foreign policy mandarins. Now, however, with China making its mark in Africa, and getting a head start over India in the race for Africa’s minerals, oil and gas, South Block has woken up and is ready to revive its traditional links.

Pranab Mukherjee’s will be the most important visit to Libya at the highest level since late prime minister Indira Gandhi travelled to Tripoli 22 years ago. Oil rich Libya is booming ever since the lifting of sanctions by the US. Libya is also keen on attracting foreign investments. Indian companies are already operating there. India’s premier public sector company BHEL has been in service there for the past quarter of a century. Libya is looking towards Indian expertise in building its medium and small sector industry. Like many other countries Libya is keen to make use of India’s IT talent.

“The visit will attempt to fabricate a framework thereby enabling the elevation of our bilateral exchanges to move with the times where technology and training can bring greater benefits to both countries,” Navtej Sarna, foreign office spokesman said.

Mukherjee will be in Hamburg for the Asia-Europe (ASEM) meeting on May 28 and 29. It is the first time that India will be participating as a member. India, Pakistan, Mongolia and the ASEAN secretariat are four new members from Asia while Bulgaria and Romania are two new entrants from Europe to the 45-member group. On May 30, Mukherjee will go to Brussels, where he will meet Indian ambassadors to the EU countries and have discussions with EU officials.