South Korea president to visit India, Posco boost likely
January 15th, 2010 - 3:31 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) India is set to roll out the red carpet for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak when he comes here as chief guest for the Jan 26 Republic Day celebrations - an honour reserved for special friends of New Delhi.
Lee will begin Jan 24 a four-day visit that will focus on scaling up economic ties between India, one of the fastest growing economies, and South Korea, an Asian economic giant. He will also go to Chennai.
Lee will be accompanied by his wife Kim Yoon-ok and a high-level delegation, the external affairs ministry said while announcing the visit.
A clutch of economic pacts are likely to be signed after talks between Lee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The visit is expected to give a big push to the much-delayed steel project of Posco at Jagatsinghpur district in Orissa, the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) into India at $12 billion.
Indian officials are working overtime to fast-track the project. A symbolic ‘ribbon-cutting ceremony’ to mark land possession clearances to Posco may happen when Lee is in India, sending the right message to potential South Korean investors.
Ahead of Lee’s trip, four officials from South Korean steel major Posco, who were taken hostage Thursday in Jagatsinghpur by villagers protesting against the company’s proposed $12 billion project, were released a few hours later.
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- Government puts onus on Orissa to push POSCO project - Jun 16, 2010
- South Korean President to arrive in New Delhi on Sunday - Jan 22, 2010
- 'Posco delay will not affect South Korean investments' (Lead) - Nov 11, 2010
- Manmohan Singh meets South Korean President in Hanoi - Oct 29, 2010
- Patnaik heads for Delhi to discuss Posco project - Jan 26, 2010
- Civil n-pact between South Korea, India awaits signature - Oct 29, 2010
- South Korea upbeat on n-pact with India, signs IT and space pacts (Roundup) - Jan 25, 2010
- Orissa assures it will expedite Posco project (Second Lead) - Jan 27, 2010
- India, South Korea to discuss nuclear cooperation Monday - Jan 22, 2010
- India, South Korea to discuss nuclear pact, push Posco deal Monday - Jan 24, 2010
- India, South Korea to discuss nuclear pact, push Posco deal (Lead) - Jan 24, 2010
- Orissa assures it will expedite Posco project (Lead) - Jan 26, 2010
- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak arrives on a four-day State visit - Jan 24, 2010
Tags: chief guest, economic giant, economic pacts, economic ties, external affairs ministry, indian officials, level delegation, manmohan, manmohan singh, posco, president lee, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, red carpet, republic day, ribbon cutting ceremony, south korean president, special friends, steel project, wife kim