Summit on enhancing India-Central Europe economic ties on Monday

The second India-Central Europe (CE) business forum here on Monday will focus on accelerating economic ties with central European countries for mutual gains in the years to come, industry chamber FICCI said.

"The forum will focus on India's multiple engagements with CE economies to enhance tie-ups in tech transfer, research, innovation and skill development," the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) said in a statement here.

Organised by the external affairs ministry and the chmaber, with Karnataka and Poland as partner state and partner country, the two-day forum will began with inaugural address by Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. V.K. Singh (retd.) and a special address by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

"Polish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Leszek Soczewica and Hungarian Deputy Minister for Trade Laszlo Szabo will share their vision on the economic ties between the two regions," the statement noted.

About 120 delegates from 18 Central European countries and 250 participants from across the country will participate in the forum, which is an institutionalized platform to showcase their economic prowess for leveraging their strengths.

"Under the over-arching effort, entrepreneurs of large, small and medium enterprises will focus on collaborating in diverse areas such as agriculture and food processing, auto and auto components, renewable energy, life sciences, manufacturing, tourism and urban infrastructure," the statement said.

The first edition of the forum, held in New Delhi last year, attracted about 100 official and business delegates from 14 Central European countries, and 200 Indian industry leaders.

Highlights of the forum are partner country and partner state sessions, sector-focus sessions and business-to-business meetings. An expo will be held on its margins.