India may sign infrastructure MoU with Italy

NEW DELHI: The Government is likely to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Italian government for co-operation in the fields of roads, ports and logistics. It may also include an exchange programme of officials and experts in the infrastructure sector of both the countries.

“The government of India would initiate suitable action for the expeditious finalisation of the MoU and its signing either in Delhi or in Rome,” shipping, road transport and highways minister TR Baalu said. Italian infrastructure minister Antonio De Pietro had met the minister on Thursday to put forward his proposal for such an MoU.

The Italian minister highlighted the importance of safety, environmental protection, quality, archaeological and historical aspects being followed by Italian infrastructure firms and hoped that Italian entrepreneurs may also be suitably associated in the Indian infrastructure scene.

While welcoming foreign expertise, Mr Baalu said that foreign know-how and latest advancements in the implementation of infrastructure projects following due procedures has been part of the infrastructure development in the country.

Mr Baalu also gave a brief introduction about the recent initiatives launched by the government in the roads and ports sectors, particularly the various phases of the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) in the roads sector and the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) for the port and shipping sectors.