Czech Republic can be key partner for India’s devp initiatives: President

Prague: The Czech Republic, a manufacturing “powerhouse” with advanced technology base, can be a key partner for India’s development initiatives, President Ram Nath Kovind has said, referring to footwear major Bata, a brand with which all Indians have grown up.
Addressing the Indian community here on Thursday, the president said India has some very interesting connections with this city and this country. “Many of you would know that Bata, a brand with which all Indians have grown up and which all of us consider our own, has its roots in this country,” he said.
“A great son of the Czech Republic, Thomas Bata founded the Bata shoe company in a town not far from Prague. And from here it spread to every nook and corner of the world including Batanagar, close to Kolkata in India. Bata shoes today walk in every village, every town and every city in India,” President Kovind said.
Recalling other connections with this city, he said, “Our great leader Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose visited Prague and spent some time here. In his quest for freedom for his motherland, he founded the Indo-Czech Association in Prague in 1934.”
He said India is keen to strengthen and diversify its relations with the Czech Republic as there are numerous opportunities for businesses to grow both ways – be it trade, technology or investment. “This is not just a beautiful country, but a country with a large heart for India and for Indians. We have warm and friendly relations with the Czech Republic.
Our ties go back a thousand years when traders from Bohemia bought spices and silk from India,” the president said. “Both our countries have inherited a rich cultural heritage, which has gained vibrancy over the years.
The Charles University here is the oldest centre of Indology in Europe. Eminent Czech scholars brought the works of Rabindranath Tagore to the Czech people and helped foster a deep cultural connect with India.” The installation of the bust of Rabindranath Tagore, in Prague, and naming the tram station “Thakurova” after him, is homage to Gurudev and to his poetic genius, he said. He said, “the Czech Republic, a manufacturing powerhouse with advanced technology base, can be a key partner for our Make In India, Digital India, Start-up India and other national programmes.”
“We seek your support in this endeavour. Your professional experience, convening power, and entrepreneurial spirit can make this partnership blossom,” he said. President Kovind arrived in the Czech Republic Thursday on the final leg of his three-nation European tour.
India invites Czech defence companies
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday invited Czech defence companies to take advantage of the opening of defence manufacturing sector in India and set-up joint ventures to produce for the country and for rest of the world.
President Kovind after holding talks with his Czech counterpart Milos Zeman said there is immense potential for India-Czech defence collaboration to meet the growing requirements of the Indian defence industry.
During the meeting, they took stock of the ongoing defence co-operation, the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. The two countries signed five MoUs including between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India and the Czech Academy of Sciences; on work plan for support of Indo-Czech projects in diverse areas of science and technology; on visa waiver agreement for diplomatic passport holders and between ELI Beamlines and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in the field of Laser Technology.
President Kovind, who arrived here Thursday on the final leg of his three-nation European tour, said India values the Czech Republic as an important trade, technology and investment partner.
“The Czech strengths in manufacturing and advanced technology make it a natural fit to partner Indian growth and next-generation development,” he said. He said Czech major Skoda Auto and its parent company Volkswagen have announced plans to invest USD 1 billion in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
He said India-Czech Joint Economic Commission meeting to be held next month at the Ministerial level, will deliberate in detail and take steps to enhance trade and investment cooperation and diversify the partnership into new areas. (PTI)