New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI): Taking the "Look East" policy to new heights, President Pratibha Patil on Monday embarks on a 10-day visit to Vietnam and Indonesia to further expand India's bilateral ties with its ASEAN neighbours. The high-level visit is expected to give a fresh impetus to bilateral relations encompassing political, economic and cultural ties with these economically and strategically important countries.
"This visit essentially reaffirms India's commitment to enhance our engagement with these countries, our close friends within ASEAN fraternity. It is part of our 'Look East' policy initiative," Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs N Ravi said.
Besides enhancing ties in trade and investment, the visit would also give India an opportunity to assess the present state of relations in all facets -- political, economic and cultural, he said.
Patil, who will be leaving for Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, will have meetings with her Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, reviewing bilateral relations between the two countries.
During her four-day stay in Vietnam, which would also take her to Hanoi, the President would attend a business meeting being organised by FICCI and the Vietnam Chambers of Commerce.
Indo-Vietnamese trade has increased manifold in recent years. India has emerged as the 10th largest exporter of items to Vietnam last year as total exports reached $1.3 billion. The total trade crossed the $1.5 billion mark last year.
Major commodities exported from India to Vietnam during last year were animal feed, machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals, ordinary metals, iron and steel, leather and textile materials, medicinal ingredients, cotton of all kinds and pesticides.
India's imports from Vietnam in the same period included coal, pepper, computer hardware, rubber, cinnamon, garments and textiles.
A number of private Indian software training companies have been able to conclude franchise arrangements with Vietnamese agencies on commercial terms without any international funding.
Three Indian companies, NIIT, APTECH and TATA Infotech have so far opened over 50 franchised IT training centres in Vietnam. Other IT majors like Satyam computers and Wipro are also closely watching investment opportunities in Vietnam.
During her five-day stay in Indonesia, a key strategic partner of India in the 10-member ASEAN, the President would meet her counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
