Himalayan News Service

New Delhi, January 10:

Italian president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi will visit India in February as Rome takes a fresh look at the potential for trade and commercial ties with one of the fastest growing economies in the world. A large business delegation will accompany Ciampi, the first Italian head of state to visit India in a decade, and will hold talks with Indian industry leaders on business opportunities. Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi could not lead the European Union delegation to the India-EU summit in New Delhi in 2003 as scheduled due to ill health. “There is a growing realisation in Italy that India is an important Asian country. The president’s visit is a reflection of this,” an Indian official said.