India, Croatia sign accords on healthcare, culture

India on Wednesday signed two agreements with Croatia on cooperation in healthcare sector and cultural exchange of experts as Vice President Hamid Ansari began his two-day state visit of the country.

Zagreb: India on Wednesday signed two agreements
with Croatia on cooperation in healthcare sector and cultural
exchange of experts as Vice President Hamid Ansari began his
two-day state visit of the country.

The agreement on healthcare covers areas of
cooperation in the field of mother and child health, family
planning, public health and nursing, medical research, medical
equipment and pharmaceutical products, hospital management
standards and curriculum of medical education.

The cultural exchange programme, for a period between
2010-12, provides for cooperation between respective
institutions in both the countries and for exchange of experts
to enhance practical, mutually beneficial cooperation.

It also provides for a contemporary Indian art
exhibition and an Indian miniature paintings exhibition to be
held in Croatia, while a contemporary Croatian art exhibition
and an exhibition of Croatian cultural heritage will be held
in India.

The agreement also provides for enhanced engagement in
the field of Indology as Croatian scholars have shown strong
interest in this area. It also provides for encouraging
performing arts and organisation of film festivals in both
countries.

The agreement on Health and Medicine was signed by
Minister of State for Communications and Information
Technology Sachin Pilot from the Indian side and Croatia`s
State Secretary Ministry of Health Ante Zvonimir Golem in the
presence of Ansari.

Similarly, the agreement on Cultural exchange was
signed by Indian Ambassador Pradeep Singh and Croatian
Minister of Culture Bozo Biskupic.

The bilateral cooperation in healthcare will cover
exchange of information and delegations besides training and
deputation of experts to international meetings held in both
the countries.

The annual bilateral trade between India and Croatia
is pegged at USD 160 million, which is increasing every year.
Croatia supports India`s bid for a permanent membership in the
UN Security Council and non-permanent seat in the UNSC in
2011-12.

PTI

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