Spain for tie-ups in core sector, IT

Spain is looking at mutually beneficial bilateral economic ties with India. The country has offered its expertise in infrastructure, high speed railway lines, drinking water supply projects and also sought cooperation in information technology, education and biotechnology.

"There is going to be an explosion of Spanish interests in India in the next few years as India and Spain come together to face global challenges. Today, we are opening a door to India, a door to reality. I invite companies from both India and Spain to collaborate and set up joint ventures. The government of Spain will be very happy to support their efforts," Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said at a joint business meeting organised by business chambers here today.

He said the visit of the trade delegation, led by him, had come at a decisive moment when the economies of both the countries had made a turnaround.

Calling for mutually beneficial ties between the two countries, he said Spain could learn more about IT and biotechnology from India, while India could take advantage of Spain's expertise in infrastructure, which presents investment opportunities of 100 billion euro.

He also expressed interest in India's expertise in education and technology which have become the main drivers of India's growth rate and said bilateral agreements between the two countries would be signed in these fields.

Officials from the Spanish delegation said both countries could collaborate in the areas of food, tourism, automation, renewable energy and infrastructure.