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 | | Sunday, 7 April, 2002, 11:47 GMT 12:47 UK Indian PM on 'Look East' mission  India is offering its strong computer skills The Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has left Delhi on a crucial visit to Singapore and Cambodia. The five-day official tour is being widely seen as a significant step in India's Look East policy. India is trying to win closer economic ties with the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). India and the Asean countries are due to hold their first summit in November this year to boost economic and political co-operation. Two-way trade currently stands at $8.5bn and although it has doubled in the last five years, it is still less than half of the target. Trade ties There is already a strong bilateral relationship between Singapore and India. Mr Vajpayee will spend three days in Singapore during which the two sides are expected to sign a number of agreements in the telecom sector. Talks will also focus on India's advanced computer industry, an area where there is great potential for co-operation. Mr Vajpayee would be the first Indian premier to visit Cambodia in nearly five decades when he reaches Phnom Pehn on 9 April.
India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru went to Cambodia in 1954. The two countries are expected to formalise a host of agreements to boost tourism. India is also keen to begin commercial flights to Cambodia's ancient Angkor Wat temples. The site, which is believed to be the largest religious structure in the world, is Cambodia's biggest tourist attraction. India became a full dialogue partner of Asean in 1996. The Foreign Minister, Jaswant Singh, has just concluded a summit with Asean members Burma and Thailand, agreeing to establish closer economic ties and construct a major highway connecting the three countries. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top South Asia stories now:  Links to more South Asia stories are at the foot of the page. | |
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