Report and Pics from Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (RD)
 
Mumbai, Mar 20: The visiting President of Chile Dr Michelle Bachelet disclosed that Chile is presently working on entering into a  preferential trade agreement with India. She said Chile has signed four memorandums of understanding (MoU) with India and is keen to increase cooperation with the country in various areas including economy and culture. The President was speaking to the Governor of Maharashtra S C Jamir at Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday (March 18) evening.
 
Dr Bachelet told the Governor that MoUs for cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy sources, education, exploration of outer space for peaceful purposes and geology and mineral resources have been signed with India.
 

Extending invitation to Bollywood, the President said Chile has some of the most exotic locations, long coastline and diverse climates which Bollywood would find very attractive and inexpensive for the shooting of their  films.
 
Praising India for its progress in IT and other sectors of economy, she said her country is working hard to improve the English-teaching capability of teachers, so that more people in Chile could learn English as second language after Spanish. This she felt was necessary in view of globalization.
 
Welcoming the President to Maharashtra, Governor Jamir thanked her for the support Chile has extended to India’s claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. He also thanked Dr Bachelet for condemning the terrorist attacks on Mumbai and expressing solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism. The Governor also told the President that Maharashtra offered tremendous opportunities for investment and that President would find her interactions with the business community in Mumbai rewarding.
 
The Governor later hosted dinner in honour of the visiting President.
 
Dr Michelle Bachelet was born on September 29 1951, is the first woman to be elected as President of Chile and in South America. She was sworn in as President on March 11 2006. She studied medicine at the University of Chile and earned medical degree with a specialty in paediatrics. She had worked as a paediatrician at Swedish-run clinic for children of political prisoners until 1990.