India and Croatia Signed Two Agreements

On 09 June 2010, India and Croatia signed two agreements during Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari’s visit to the latter. The visit was a part of his two -nation tour which also included Czech Republic.

• First agreement was in the area of health and medicine.
• Second agreement was in the area of culture.

Agreement on health and medicine included areas of mother and child health, family planning, public health and nursing, medical research, medical equipment and pharmaceutical products, hospital management and curriculum of medical education.

In the area of culture, India and Croatia decided to have a Cultural Exchange Programme. Under the programme, an exhibition of contemporary Indian art and Indian miniature paintings is to take place in Croatia while a contemporary Croatian art and Croatian cultural heritage are to be showcased in India. Both nations agreed to hold their film festivals and to perform arts at each other’s side.

Besides, the above agreements the two nations agreed for international cooperation against terrorism. Croatia agreed to support India’s candidature for non-permanent seat in UN Security Council for the year 2011-12 .Croatia also supported India’s bid for permanent membership in UN Security Council.

• Both sides discussed cooperation in biosciences, physical sciences, environmental sciences and information technology.
• The two sides also discussed scope in tourism.
• In Box
• Father Filip Wesdin of Croatia had worked in India on Sanskrit Grammar in the 18th century.
• India recognised Croatia in May 1992 and established diplomatic relations with it on 9 July 1992.
• Bilateral trade between the two nations stood at 156.98 million dollars in 2009. India’s export to Croatia was of 124.55 million dollars while import was 32.43 million dollars in 2009.
• Indian Vice President’s visit to Croatia was the first time that any dignitary of such high level from India had visited the nation.
• Croatia was a part of erstwhile Yugoslavia, which broke up into six parts;

Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia.

The process of disintegration started in 1990.

Although Croatia is area -wise a small country, it does offer India access to a wider market inside Europe because it is placed at the gateway of eastern and central Europe. India needs support of countries like Croatia to achieve its goal of UN permanent membership and to improve its trade relations with eastern and central European countries.