The Centre today approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on renewable energy signed with Portugal.
"The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing of a MoU on Renewable Energy between India and Portugal. The MoU was signed on January 6, 2017 in New Delhi," an official statement said today.
The MoU will help strengthen bilateral cooperation between the countries, it said.
Both sides aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable issues on the basis of mutual benefit equality and reciprocity.
The MoU envisages constitution of a Joint Working Group which can co-opt other members from Scientific Institutions, Research Centres, Universities, or any other entity, as and when considered essential.
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The Cabinet also approved the memorandum of understanding with Portugal for cooperation in the field of IT and Electronics.
"The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Portugal on cooperation in the field of IT&E. The MoU was signed on January 6, 2017 in New Delhi," an official statement said.
"The MoU will help in developing a long term and sustainable cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual interest in the areas of IT&E in line with each country's laws and regulations," the statement said.
Earlier in the day, Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad met Maria Manuel Leitao Marques, Portugal's Minister of Presidency and Administrative Modernisation where both sides stressed on the need to further explore opportunities to strengthen ties in the field of information and communication technology.
To fast-track the collaboration, the government is also looking to set up a working group to enhance the scope for furthering ties, which will be a follow-up of a bilateral agreement between between both the countries.
"From cyber security to digital delivery to financial inclusion, there is a great scope of working between Portugal and India. We are very soon going to start working group between Portugal and India," Prasad said after meeting Maria Manuel Leitao Marques.