Chidambaram Meets Antwerp�s Indian community

Finance Minister P Chidambaram has won over European Union officials, policy makers and members of the European business community in Brussels as he presented The India story on May 12, 2006. "Infrastructure is a deficit for India but an opportunity for investors," Chidambaram told European business leaders at an investment meet. He also stressed that India was an exciting and interesting opportunity for investors owing to "reforms embedded in a democratic polity, equitable society and inclusiveness". Chidambaram also met the European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, Joaquin Almunia, and discussed EU-India economic and commercial relations.

The minister managed to squeeze in a brief meeting with representatives of Antwerps Indian community who control around 60% of Belgiums $36 billion trade in rough and polished diamonds. Mukul Joshi, managing director of the Belgium-based diamond firm, Belindiam, as well as a board member of the diamond industrys main regulating body, the High Diamond Council, said the minister was updated on the Belgium governments initiative to stimulate Antwerps diamond sector.

Chidambaram concluded his one-day visit with an impressive and lucid outline of Indian economy at a lecture organised by the Brussels-based think tank, the European Policy Centre, in cooperation with the Japanese Saskawa Foundation.