President Patil to visit Switzerland, Austria

New Delhi, Sep 29 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil will undertake a state visit of Switzerland and Austria from September 30 to October 7 to enhance bilateral relations with both the nations.

"President Patil will be on a State visit to the Swiss Confederation from September 30 to October 4. She will thereafter pay a State Visit to the Republic of Austria from October 4 to 7," said M. Ganapathi, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry.

"The visit of our President is a part of the process of maintaining our high level engagement with Switzerland and Austria. The exchanges between the two countries in the political, Parliamentary, economic and commercial, cultural and science and technology fields have been gathering momentum," he added.

He said President Patil to both Switzerland and Austria would provide added impetus in the further expansion and consolidation of the historical friendship and cooperation between India and these two friendly countries.

"Both Switzerland and Austria are renowned for their experience and expertise in activities in the high technology related area, renewable and clean energy, infrastructure development, vocational education, small and medium enterprises, drugs and pharmaceuticals, biotechnology besides others," he added.

The members of the delegation accompanying the President will include Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla and Members of Parliament Vijay Jawaharlal Darda, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav, and Dr. Chinta Mohan.

Senior officials including the Secretary to President Dr. Christy Fernandez and Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs would also be a part of the delegation, besides a number of business leaders and members of the media.

In Switzerland, the President would pay homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on October 2 at his statue in Geneva. While in Berne, President will hold official talks with the President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey, and other members of the Federal Council.

She will also unveil a bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at the University of Lausanne on October 4.

An MoU is expected to be signed between the University and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations on setting up of a Chair on Indian Studies. It is significant that this event takes place at a time when we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. (ANI)