India, Syria to expand oil sector co-operation

India and Syria have agreed to enhance cooperation in oil and gas exploration besides expanding ties in various other fields like information technology, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in various sectors like phosphatic fertilisers, automobiles, processed food products, agricultural machinery, marine transport and small and medium enterprises, union minister of commerce and industry Anand Sharma said.

India and Syria also agreed to make concerted efforts to raise bilateral trade to a level commensurate with the potential of the two countries, Sharma announced at an India-Syria Joint Commission meeting in Damascus.

Anand Sharma and Lamia Marai Aasi, minister for economy and trade of the Syrian Arab Republic, co-chaired the second session of the India-Syria Joint Commission meeting in Damascus on 10 June.

Sharma was accompanied by a business delegation from the Confederation of India Industry (CII), including captains of industry and major companies.

The two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding on trade facilitation and process measures besides agreement on 'exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports, as also an MoU between the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry (HOMS) and the Confederation of Indian Industry.