Welcome to the Official page of the State Visit to India

The growing part played by the Indian economy within the global context and Portugal’s historic links with India are reason enough to look at this country with particular attention.

The visit by the President of the Republic is in line with this perspective and is intended not only to bear witness to the development efforts made by this nation but also to enhance and encourage relations between Portugal and India.

The economic progress of India – the world’s biggest democracy – is one of the most impressive phenomena of our days. It has lifted millions of people out of poverty and has shown the world the benefits that can be brought about by economic development. And India’s successful focus on the technology area and on human resource training is an inspiring example.

In terms of gross domestic product measured in purchasing power parity (GDPppp) India is the world’s fourth economy and it is highly likely that it will become the world’s third economy in GDPppp terms as from 2007.

Only China and India have returned high growth rates on a sustained basis since 1980. Over the past 10 years the Indian economy has grown at an average rate of more than 7%, and it is one of the countries that has contributed most, each year, to the growth of the global economy.

Exposure of India’s economy to the outside world has increased very clearly in recent years. The weight of exports as a percentage of GDP rose from 7% in 1994 to 19% in 2004, while that of imports increased from 9% to 23% over the same period. Likewise, foreign direct investment in India has risen from 240 million dollars in 1990 to around 5.3 billion in 2004.

One of the areas in which India has made its mark on the world stage is the technological industry. It is one of the countries best placed in the world ranking of leading technological companies, taking full advantage of the quality of its universities and of the training provided in this field.

The article “The Next Wave”, published in "The Economist" on December 14th, 2005 is eloquent in this respect.

“The euphoria is confined neither to American multinationals, nor to information technology. It also encompasses India's own IT industries, and the expanding range of other back-office services that can now be performed remotely. The three biggest Indian IT-services firms - Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro - are each recruiting more than 1,000 people a month.”

India has a population greater than 1.1 billion and it is the country that has made the biggest contribution to global population growth over the past 5 years (with an average annual growth of 16 million inhabitants). It is set to become the world’s most populous nation by 2030. With an economic growth rate that in average annual terms is set to stand at about 6-8% in the coming decades, there can be no doubt as to India’s growing relevance in the global context. Both as an engine of global economic growth and as a potential market, the Indian economy warrants increasing attention in Europe and in Portugal.

	Background On India A hitherto unpublished presentation of India: the main facts, its history, the economy and demography of the world’s biggest democracy. The challenges and opportunities of a civilisation that has a history dating back five thousand years.
	India Snippets