Major Indian industry heavyweights from contracting and steel companies are looking to expand to Bahrain, boosting trade and commerce between the two countries, it has emerged.

The Indian Ambassador-designate to Bahrain, Mohan Kumar, said he was determined to bring the two countries closer through trade and investment.

'Expatriate Indians have made significant contributions to the country's growth story. There is also another aspect that needs to be tapped which is trade and investment,' Kumar told our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) yesterday.

He said several Indian companies are keen to enter Bahrain market and set up their bases to execute major projects.

'Bahrain has a well known financial sector and there are some ambitious ideas that can be implemented that would further enhance relations between India and Bahrain.

'Medical tourism is another area which I would certainly like to see grow,' the he said.

Kumar also revealed that he would also push for a proposal to have Bahrain as a country of honour during a key meeting to be organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

'This is an idea that we are floating,' he said.

Kumar, 53, who was India's deputy chief of mission in France, replaces Dr George Joseph, who retired last month.

Kumar said he was committed to serving the Indian community and keen to opening new channels of communication with media outlets.

'I will do everything within my power to serve the best interest of the community. It is my primary responsibility,' the career diplomat said.

He also called on Indian citizens to register at the embassy upon arrival and said the doors were always open to help distressed nationals.

Kumar will be chairing the monthly Open House meeting organised by the embassy this Friday.

Before he joined the Indian Embassy in Paris in August 2007, he was External Affairs Ministry joint secretary in New Delhi.

Kumar has also served as deputy high commissioner in Sri Lanka, counsellor at India's permanent mission to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva, counsellor and charge d'affaires at the Indian Embassy in Belgrade, second secretary and first secretary in Kinshasa, Congo, and second secretary in Rabat, Morocco.-TradeArabia News Service