India, Bahrain sign agreement on transfer of sentenced persons

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Bahrain counterpart Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa signed an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons here on Saturday.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that both sides have discussed on the possibility of concluding pending agreements.

"Double taxation avoidance agreement is something which Bahrain would like to see happening with India," MEA's Secretary (East) Anil Wadhwa told media here.

"India would like to see an MoU on defence co-operation with Bahrain," he added.

Swaraj, who is on a two-day bilateral visit to Bahrain, met the Gulf Nation's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa after her arrival earlier today.

She also went to Srinath Ji Temple and Little India Market, and visited India Pavilion at Bahrain Air Show.

She is in Bahrain for the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to deepen the country's ties with the 22-member grouping.

The India-Arab League ministerial meeting, comes over a year after the two sides held their first Senior Officials' Meeting in Bahrain in November 2014.

Bahrain is an important partner for India in the Gulf with bilateral trade in 2013-14 exceeding USD 1.3 billion. Over 350,000 Indian nationals work and contribute to the development of Bahrain.