India, Portugal signed seven agreements including defence cooperation

India and Portugal on 7 January 2017 signed seven agreements to boost the bilateral relations between the two nations. The signed agreements include support in defence cooperation and renewable energy.

The MoUs were signed after bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa in New Delhi. PM Antonio Costa was on a seven-day visit to India.

List of agreements signed include

• MoU in the field of Information Technology and Electronics: This agreement aims at promoting cooperation in the area of information technology and electronics through specific projects between public and private sector institutions on both sides.

• MoU in the Agriculture and Allied Sectors: It aims to exchange of scientific and technical information and  the organisation of training programmes. It also seeks to promote agricultural trade including market access of agricultural products between the two countries.

• MoU on Renewable Energy: It aims to promote innovative technologies in the field of renewable energy. It also seeks for exchange in experts training programme and technical visits and workshops, joint seminars, conferences in the energy sector.

• MoU on Marine Research and Resources: The MoU proposes to enhance cooperation in Marine Research through subjects such as oceanography, marine ecology, technical and scientific development of aquaculture and bio-geo-chemistry and ocean acidification.

• MoU on Defence: The MoU envisages defence cooperation and exchanges covering

(i) High-level visits

(ii) Working-level exchanges

(iii) Education and training exchanges

(iv) Exchange of views on issues of mutual interests like security challenges, maritime security, UN peacekeeping operations, and defence industries cooperation.

• MoU on the establishment of an ICCR Chair of Indian Studies in University of Lisbon: The MoU is regarding establishing an Indian Chair at the University of Lisbon

• Agreement on visa waiver for holders of diplomatic passports: The agreement allows visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders of India and Portugal to each other’s countries for short term visits.

Other happenings during the visit included

• The two Prime Ministers, namely Narendra Modi and António Costa released commemorative postal stamps.

• The agreements were signed after delegation-level talks held between the two nations talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi

• PM António Costa met the President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President

• PM António Costa  laid wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

• PM António Costa also inspected the Guard of Honour at Ceremonial Reception in New Delhi

Beside all these happenings including signing of seven agreements, the two nations, namely India and Portugal, also released a Joint Declaration on Cooperation in Third Countries