Poland keen to deepen economic ties with India

VADODARA: Poland today said it is keen on expanding and deepening economic ties with India and wants to be part of ' Make in India' mission that focuses on expanding manufacturing base in Asia's third largest economy.

"Trade volume between India and Poland has been growing steadily and it now stands at USD 2 billion. We want it to reach up to USD 20 billion in the next few years," said Ambassador of Poland in India Tomasz Lukaszuk here.

"Poland's trade volume with China is USD 20 billion and efforts are being made to achieve the same level with India," he said and stressed on greater cooperation between New Delhi and Warsaw to achieve the ambitious target.

Lukaszuk was here for inauguration of International Indian Summer School at a private educational institute, where 44 students from two universities in Poland and Germany have come to study engineering, nursing, management and pharmacy under an exchange programme.

He had an informal interaction with industrialists in the city before inaugurating the school.

Recalling his meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel in Gandhinagar in November last year, Lukaszuk said, "Polish companies have accepted invitation of Ms Patel to set up manufacturing facilities in Gujarat to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' mission."

Polish companies are interested in cooperation in the renewable energy sector such as solar and wind power, he said.

Speaking at the school event, the envoy recalled long standing ties between the Central European country and what is now Gujarat.

"We remember historical ties between Poland and Gujarat during the World War-II when Jam Saheb, ruler of erstwhile Nawanagar-Jamnagar state, gave asylum to Polish refugees, widows and children. We have not forgotten that gesture and for that we are grateful to you."

Poland will invite Modi to pay visit to the country, Lukaszuk said but did not elaborate.

He asked Indian companies to invest heavily in Poland to reap the benefit of a fully liberalised economy. Poland is now part of the European Union and expanding its manufacturing base.

Poland is keen to have a strong business relationship with India and will explore the possibility of foreign direct investment in agriculture, power and mining in multiple Indian states, Lukaszuk added.