Farooq Abdullah conferred top Spanish honour

74-year-old Abdullah has been honoured for his efforts to promote sustainable economic development through the promotion of renewable energy.

The New and Renewable Energy Minister received the honour from Spanish Ambassador to India Gustavo de Aristegui at a function last night.

Abdullah accepted it on behalf of the people of India and hoped that one day he would be able to see his vision of every India household electrified become a reality.

"The Spanish Ambassador thanked Dr Abdullah for accepting this honour and recalled the major achievements in the renewable energy sector under the stewardship of Dr Farooq Abdullah," an official statement said here.

India-Spain economic, trade and investment relations have grown substantially in the last few years and the bilateral trade in 2011 stood at USD 5.84 billion. Spain is the 13th largest investor in India with total FDI at USD 820 million.

The Order of Spanish Civil Merit was created by Queen Isabel II in the XIX century to honour Spaniards and foreign citizens with exceptional qualities who have performed services for their communities and contributed to a better understanding between nations.