In the course of the meeting National Assembly President Prof. Ognian Gerdjikov and the President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam voiced their satisfaction with the very good development of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and India.

It is honour for us to welcome you in Bulgaria on your first visit abroad as President of India, Prof. Gerdjikov stated. Bulgaria supports the idea for increasing the number of permanent UN Security Council’s members and the possibility India to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council taking into consideration India’s important role in the world, he said.

Dr. Kalam announced that the Speaker of the House of People of the Indian Parliament Mr. Manohar Joshi had accepted Prof. Gerdjikov’s invitation to pay an official visit to Bulgaria.

The purpose of my visit now is to search for new ways for intensifying trade and economic relations between the two countries, the President of India said. In this respect an Indian expert group will visit Bulgaria in January next year to explore the opportunities for cooperation in high technologies, industry and software and for creation of joint ventures, Dr. Kalam added.

Prof. Gerdjikov expressed his satisfaction with the intensive development of the parliamentary relations between the two countries. He added that the potential of the trade and economic relations has not been enough developed. Bulgaria strives to create favourable business climate for foreign investments, Prof. Gerdjikov assured.