CHANDIGARH: The visiting Colombian ambassador Juan Alfredo Pinto today called on the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and evinced keen interest to improve bi-lateral relations between Colombia and Punjab for the promotion of trade, commerce and Industry.

Taking part in the deliberations, Pinto said that Colombia had a proven track of technology in the field of waste management to generate power. He said that Colombian government had already set-up  a joint venture with Tamil Nadu Government to generate power from the solid waste at Chennai. This project was being implemented by Neel Metal Fanalca headed by Vinay Maheshwari. Pinto also showered interest to replicate the same project in Punjab. He also put forth proposals to set-up industrial units in collaboration with Colombian Government in the field of Agro industry, IT and Textiles. He also emphasized the need for cultural exchange between the artistes from the Punjab and Colombia. To achieve this objective, a troupe of 16 performers would be visiting Punjab in November to promote cultural ties.

The Chief Minister appreciated the spirit of the visiting ambassador for the promotion of mutual trade and commercial activities. He said Punjab was fast emerging as an investment destination and had been ranked a front-runner state offering competitive advantages in terms of sound agricultural base, strong institutional credit system, Global Air linking, World-wide linkage of Punjab diaspora. Mr. Badal pointed out that Punjab had at tremendous growth potential in hosiery and textile, sports goods, infrastructure, super specialty hospitals, leather goods, Bio-technology, retail and entertainment.

The representatives of PHD Chamber of commerce and CII  (north) also took part in the deliberations and apprised Mr. Pinto with the new avenues of mutual interests for the promotion of trade and industry. CII also solicited the participation of  Colombia in the Expo Agro-tech exhibition to be held at Chandigarh from November 28 to December 1, 2008.

Pinto was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Soraya Caro, Mr. Vinay Maheshwari  and Genreal Manager Mr. Inder Bawa from Neel Metal Fanalca (Colombia). The meeting was also attended by  Local Government Minister Mr. Manoranjan Kalia, Information & Public Relations Minister Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Chief Secretary Punjab Mr. R.I Singh, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce  S.S. Channy and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. A.K. Mahajan.