India, Portugal sign agreements in defence, agriculture, sports

New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) India and Portugal on Saturday signed a slew of agreements in various fields, including defence cooperation, agriculture, renewable energy and marine research.

The MoUs were signed after bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa.

"We reviewed the full range of India-Portugal ties across various sectors. We agreed that the two countries must focus on action oriented approach to realize the full potential of economic opportunities in our partnership," Modi said in his press statement after signing of the agreements.

"The agreements signed are just one indication of our shared resolve to do exactly that expansion and deepening of trade, investment, and business partnerships between our two countries is our shared priority," he added.

The Prime Minister said the MoU on defence cooperation signed will help harness strengths of both nations.

"The MoU on Defence cooperation signed will help us harness our respective strengths in this field for mutual benefit. Sports is another area that holds promise for our bilateral ties. We are aware, Excellency, that you are an avid soccer fan. Portugal's strength in football and the rapid development of this sport in India could well form the nucleus of an emerging partnership in sporting disciplines.

"Areas of infrastructure, waste and water management, solar and wind energy, and innovation are full of opportunities to build strong commercial ties between our two economies," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that India's experiences of creating an ecosystem for start-ups could be an exciting area of bilateral engagement.

"It offers unique possibilities for building a rewarding partnership between our young business entrepreneurs that creates both value and wealth for both our societies. I am confident that the partnership being forged between Start-up Portugal and Start-up India will help us in our mutual quest to innovate and progress," he said.

Modi also thanked Costa for Portugal's consistent support for India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

"We are also grateful for the support extended by Portugal to India's membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime, and for its continued support for India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group," Modi said.

Both the leaders also discussed the need for the global community to take strong and urgent action against the rapidly growing and widely spreading threats of violence and terror.

On the occasion, the two leaders jointly released commemorative stamps issued by their postal departments, depicting Dandiya and the Portugese dance form of Pauliteiros.

Prime Minister Modi gifted Costa his father's novel, translated to English. Costa, in turn, gifted Portugese football player Christiano Ronaldo's jersey to Modi.