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Bangalore: Syrian President Bashar Al Assad arrived here on Thursday evening as part of his ongoing five-day visit to India. He was accompanied by his wife, Asma, and a high-level delegation.
Bashar visited the Indian Space Research Organisation which, ironically, had launched Israel's TESCAR spy satellite in January this year.
He had toured the offices of Indian software giant Infosys and the Indian Institute of Management yesterday. A meeting with Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur had been scheduled for later in the day.
Speaking to Gulf News about the significance of the visit, Javid Hassan, a Bangalore-based journalist with over 25 years of experience in the Middle East, said: "Bashar Al Assad's visit to Bangalore, especially the IT and the Biotechnology Parks, underlines the growing stature of India's Silicon Valley. Bangalore is already involved in the 'Partners in Learning' programme signed on July 31, 2005, whereby 10 Arab countries sought India's cooperation in enhancing their relations in the IT sector.
"That meeting, held in Dubai, brought together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen for harnessing the benefits of IT in the educational sector.
Syria could be the new kid on the block under the bilateral agreement with India for diversifying their relations in this field. Many Arab students are already pursuing higher studies in engineering, medicine and IT."
Bashar will also be visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra before heading back to Damascus.
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