Seeking to give a boost to its economic ties with Syria, India has favoured exploring a long term arrangement on phosphates and has expressed interest in setting up power projects in this West Asian country.
President Pratibha Patil suggested to Syrian Prime Minister Naji Ali Atri that a long term bilateral arrangement is needed to be explored when he sought Indian participation in phosphates and manufacturing of phosphate based fertilisers especially phosphoric acid.
While Syria is rich in deposits of phosphates, India has been in perennial short supply and has always imported the salt which is very much essential to maintain the nutrient balance of agricultural soil.
New Delhi has been pressing for long for such an arrangement with Syria which it feels could be a 'win-win' for both sides.
During his meeting with the president yesterday, the Syrian prime minister invited Indian companies to participate more in the "expanding and promising" sectors of power and hydrocarbons.
Minister of state for power Bharatsingh Solanki conveyed India's interest in the power sector in Syria and said that PSUs like NTPC and Power Grid could be potential participants.
The two sides also agreed that there should be more high-level ministerial contacts to keep up the momentum of the enhanced engagement, secretary (east) in the external affairs ministry Latha Reddy told reporters accompanying the briefing.
Today, the president visited the Syrian Parliament and met Speaker Mahmoud Al Abrash, who informed her that a Syria-India friendship group has been set up in the Syrian Parliament.
During the visit to AAMAL, an NGO which works in the area of rehabilitation of the disabled children, Patil donated Rs20 Lakh for its activities.
The president was received at the institution by first lady of Syria Asma Al Assad, who is its chairperson.
