IANS/New Delhi

India and Bahrain yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for establishing a high joint commission to boost co-operation between the two countries.
The two countries also signed an MoU for co-operation in the fields of youth and sports. Another MoU was signed between the Foreign Service Institute of India’s external affairs ministry and the Diplomatic Institute of Bahrain’s ministry of foreign affairs.
The agreements were signed during the visit of King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifah of Bahrain, who arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day state visit at the head of a high-level official delegation.
According to a press release of the external affairs ministry, the MoUs on establishing high joint commission and the foreign service institutes were signed by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Khalifah.
The MoU for establishing the high joint commission will replace the existing joint committee for technical and economic co-operation.
The commission will be chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries and will serve as an umbrella framework for all bilateral co-operation between the two countries.
The MoU on cooperation in the fields of youth and sports was signed by Khurshid and Chairman of Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifah.
The government-run Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) also signed an agreement with Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) to assist small businesses in establishing operations.
Under the agreement, SIDBI would provide technical assistance and facilitate activities of BDB Group in the areas of risk management and credit appraisal. It will also provide training to BDB Group officials in SME credit risk appraisal and related areas, in framing a suitable monitoring policy and NPA management system and in exploring tie up of Indian micro, small and medium enterprises with SMEs in Bahrain for mutual benefit.