Official visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland

• The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, H.E. Mr. Radoslaw Sikroski, is on an official visit to India from 11-12 July 2011. This is his first visit to a country outside Europe after Poland assumed Presidency of EU on 1st July, 2011. It became a member of EU in 2004 and of NATO in 1999.
• Poland's relations with India are rooted in history and have traditionally been characterized by goodwill and cooperation. Last September, the Prime Minister of Poland, H.E. Donald Tusk, had paid a highly successful visit to India, which had re-energized the bilateral ties.
• India and Poland enjoy a multifaceted mutually beneficial relationship and have a similarity of outlook on a host of matters of common interest. Poland has consistently supported India's aspirations for permanent membership of UNSC. She also endorsed our candidature for the non-permanent seat at UNSC for 2011-2012.
• EAM congratulated Foreign Minister Sikorski on Poland's taking over the Presidency of the EU on July 1, 2011, and observed that Poland's active role in EU had added a valuable dimension to the bilateral ties.
• EAM had in depth discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues with his Polish counterpart. It was agreed that an Agreement for visa exemption for diplomatic passport holder would be concluded at the earliest. Efforts would be made to speed up negotiations of all other pending agreements as well.
• Relations between India and Poland encompass cooperation in areas like Trade and Investment, Energy, Science & Technology, Culture, Security and Defence. The two Ministers agreed to expand and deepen the broad-based bilateral cooperation including people-to-people exchanges.
• India's exports to Poland increased 40 % to cross $ one billion in 2010 taking bilateral trade to an all time high of $ 1.4 billion. During the visit of Prime Minister Tusk in September 2010, both sides had agreed to double the trade volume by 2014, a target which seems to be well within sight. Over 20 Indian companies have already invested more than USD 2.25 billion in Poland in a number of sectors. Foreign Minister Sikorski stated that Poland was keen on enhancing its investment in India and welcomed Indian businessmen and skilled workers to Poland.
• Views were also exchanged on Counter Terrorism as well as on the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, West Asia and North Africa and the EU.
• Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikroski invited EAM to pay a visit to Poland at an early mutually convenient date. The invitation was accepted with pleasure.