India, Italy keen on sharing expertise in maritime sector

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New Delhi, Oct 3: India and Italy are keen on co-operation in the maritime sector and looking for sharing information, training and a possible pact which would focus on co-operation in the port sector.

Shipping ministry sources said the ministry officials had bilateral discussions with Italian transport minister Pietro Lunardi in this regard during his recent visit here.

Sources said that the discussions were a follow up on a visit by an Indian delegation to Italy during the first week of September.

Talking to FE, Antonio Armellini, ambassador of Italy in India, “Italy has pledged its support for improving transportation and infrastructuaral systems in India and it is up to the industrialists of both countries to follow up on the possibilities of bilateral collaboration”.

The ambassador said, “Infrastructure is one area where collaboration can take place with Italy because of the similarity of the problems in this sector”. Moreover, the Indian government has accorded a high priority to this sector.

“There are many sectors where we see opportunities for collaboration between the two countries. These include construction and management of highways, railways systems, metro railway, irrigation and sewer networks, construction and management, licensing for ports and airport systems, engineering of complex systems, building construction and construction of railways material are some of these,” Mr Armellini said. An official of the ministry said that with the infrastructure sector in India witnessing positive growth, several countries have been seeking co-operation with India in this sector. In this context, the discussions held with the Italian minister focussed on a possible memorandum of understanding (MoU) on port co-operation. Sources said that the MoU would materialise as soon as the clearance from the government is received.