Brussels, 12/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Commissioner for Trade will visit India from 12 to 14 January, where he will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Trade Minister Kamal Nath. "India is a second China in terms of the impact it will have on world economy. It is making huge strides in becoming a world economic power, but it still has untapped potential", said Peter Mandelson.
Next Thursday, at a conference organised by the Indian industrial confederation, the Commissioner will address an audience of local businesspeople. He will call upon India to make strong proposals in favour of the opening up of the markets for goods and services as part of the Doha Development Agenda. Following the launch of the strategic partnership between the EU and India (EUROPE of 9 November, o.5), Mr Mandelson will also stress the need to increase regulatory transparency and legal security in the country, in order to make the most of European investments. In particular, the EU would like India to improve the situation for mobile communications, by adopting international standards, and to take measures to step up the protection of the intellectual property of European countries based there.