By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : On the eve of his visit to Oman and Qatar beginning Saturday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday suggested that India can leverage “vast surplus funds” in the Gulf for its development needs in the backdrop of current global financial crisis.
“The current international economic and financial situation provides a unique opportunity for India to leverage the vast surplus funds in the Gulf for our development needs and to accelerate trade and investment flows into teach of the countries”, Singh said in a statement.
He said that during his visit he would be taking up with the leadership of Oman and Qatar the safety and welfare of Indians working there.
“We have a large number of Indian citizens working in Oman and Qatar. Their contribution to these countries is widely acknowledged and appreciated by the authorities….During my discussions in Oman and Qatar, I shall also discuss in which we can assure their safety and welfare”, Singh said.
Referring to his visit to Qatar on November 9-10, the Prime Minister said “we attach great importance to our ties with Qatar which is one of the largest and most relaible suppliers of our energy needs from the region”.
He said given the complementarities between the two countries, “I am confident that we can build a mutually beneficial and strategic partnership in this sector”.