Kolkata: Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski today (Feb 22, 2004) expressed hope that the country's bilateral trade with India would be further increased after it became a full member of the European Union in May.

"Volume of trade can increase between the two countries as we are going to become a full member of the European Union from May this year," Kwasniewski said.

He was talking to media-persons at the NSC Bose International Airport during a transit on his way to Singapore from Warsaw this morning.

Kwasniewski said that his official visit to India some years ago was very fruitful and he was hopeful of continuing to improve the bilateral tie.

Besides Singapore, he would also visit Thailand and Indonesia. It would be his maiden visit to the region after becoming President.

Describing his visit to the region as a "goodwill mission" meant for improving bilateral tie and trade, the Polish President said the volume of business between Poland and these countries was not much in the past.

Asked about his reaction after landing on a Communist-ruled West Bengal, Kwasniewski said, "Communism is an ideology of the past. It's good that we finished it 15 years back. We are progressing faster."

Accompanied by wife Zolanta, Kwasniewski was heading a 60-member delegation.