Protocol of the Sixth Session of the India–Hellenic Joint Economic Committee.

The sixth Session of the India - Hellenic Joint Economic Committee, set up under the Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Hellenic Republic, was held in Athens on March 28th, 2011. The two Sides took note of the present levels of trade and investment flows and agreed that all efforts would be made to strengthen bilateral trade and investment in fields of economic activity presenting opportunities on both sides. Among other fields of mutual interest, enhancing bilateral cooperation in priority sectors such as agriculture (3.2), maritime and shipping (art. 3.3), and the field of renewable energy (art. 3.7). In particular, both sides indicated that the renewable energy sector presents great potential, particularly in the fields of solar and wind technology and needs to be jointly exploited. Also, the two countries pointed out their wish to enhance their cooperation in international maritime fora, especially in the area of air emission from ships. Moreover, the two Sides agreed to cooperate in the port sector and specifically, in the fields of port development and management.
With regard to agriculture, the two sides expressed their willingness to implement the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in this sector, signed in New Delhi, on 5/2/2001 and, on the basis of this, they agreed in taking steps for convening at the earliest, the Joint Hellenic-India Committee for cooperation in the field of Agriculture. The Hellenic Side expressed its interest in phyto-sanitary issues and, in particular, to be informed of the detailed rules and procedural requirements posed by the Indian Authorities, under which imports of plant origin products, such as kiwi fruits, apples, oranges and plums, could be implemented in the Indian market. The Indian side outlined areas for bilateral technical cooperation such as phytosanitary measures, SPS issues, harmonisation of SPS Standards Integrated Pest Management, registration of pesticides and residue monitoring, fruit and vegetable cultivation and market access issues of mutual concern.