New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam left New Delhi on October 18 for a week-long State visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sudan and Bulgaria, his first foreign tour after assuming the high office.

Kalam, who left by a special Air India Boeing 747-400 named 'Tanjore', was seen off at the airport by Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, I&B Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and envoys of the three countries.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was not present at the airport as he was away in Panipat in Haryana to inaugurate a refinery expansion project.

During his three-nation tour, two agreements including an Extradition Treaty and a Memorandum of Understanding are to be signed with Bulgaria, while three accords are to be inked with Sudan. Kalam would first go to the UAE and then fly to Sudan. Bulgaria would form the third leg of his tour.

The President's visit to UAE, which is taking place after a gap of 26 years, assumes significance in the backdrop of India's growing ties with the Gulf nation where there are over a million Indian expatriates.

Kalam will be received by Crown Prince Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayeed Al Nahyan, son of the UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan, who is away in London for medical treatment, External Affairs Ministry officials said.

During his two-day stay in the UAE, he will address the Dubai Chambers of Commerce, interact with the Indian community and talk to students at the Indian High School there.

The President would also be visiting the Umm Al Nar Desalination Plant, Special Care Centre run by the Indian Ladies' Association, Higher College of Technology and Knowledge Village.

PTI