Indian Technopark Invites Ukrainians
India is prepared to resume and expand cooperation with Ukraine, that country’s ambassador to Ukraine, the honorable V. B. Soni told The Day’s correspondent. Moreover, the Tecnopark in the Indian city of Hyderabad is ready to furnish, free of charge, its premises to Ukrainian exhibits and even to pay for transportation from Ukraine. Everything now depends on Ukraine, the Indian diplomats think.
“Friendly relations between Ukraine and India have somewhat cooled down over the past two years because of the tank deal Ukraine made with Pakistan and India’s nuclear tests. Now Ukraine is taking a more positive view of the nuclear tests in India. We have never allowed these differences to influence our relations. Our cooperation in science and technology can serve as an example of our relations being of a normal nature. I must admit that the successful program of scientific and technological cooperation in 1993-96 was followed by a break, when the two countries had no cooperation program at all.
“Yet, cooperation continued. For example, joint work was conducted at the Hyderabad powder metallurgy research institute. 33 projects were implemented under this program. We see now that new directions of cooperation need to be identified. Kyiv recently hosted a delegation headed by Professor V. S. Ramamurthi, India’s Deputy Minister for Science and Technology, and comprising top ministry officials and Hyderabad professors.
“We were pleasantly surprised by what was achieved in these discussions. One of the most important decisions is holding joint exhibitions and workshops, including one in Kyiv in October and one in India in December.
“We have identified new spheres of cooperation. These are theoretical physics, astronomy, astrophysics, laser technology, the physics of semiconductors, development of new materials, superhard materials, welding technology, and biomedicine. We have made a deal to launch a joint research project, and, besides, to exchange young academics.
“Hyderabad’s Technopark will furnish space to display Ukrainian achievements. In addition, the Hyderabad-based center will support those Ukrainian projects that will interest Indian businessmen, and the latter will offer regular material support for such projects.
“The Indian market of today is one of the most rapidly developing in the world, so you understand it is not so easy to enter it without a corresponding — i.e., quite expensive — promotional campaign. When the Soviet Union collapsed, it was legally succeeded by Russia, a country well-known in India, which officially announced relations with our country were of strategic importance for it. But India is also aware of the role of other countries that were part of the USSR. And although we think Ukraine has already passed through the most difficult period, to which the increased trade turnover between our countries also testifies ($214 million in 1998 and $245 million in 1999), we also understand that the young Ukrainian state needs support, the more so that this benefits India also.
“This is why the Hyderabad Technopark is offering the Ukrainians its premises and services free of charge. Moreover, one more thing was done precisely for Ukraine: the Technopark will bear the expenses for the delivery of exhibits to India.
“Ready for signature are agreements on the reciprocal protection of investments and the reestablishment of sea and air links. We hope they will be signed. For neither our nor your business people are interested in the price of goods rising because of transport costs, the more so in favor of third parties. Our chambers of commerce formed a business board last March.
“Plus India produced $6 billion worth of computer software in 1999 and plans to bring this production up to $10 billion in 2000. This is also one of the directions to be considered in our joint projects.”
