Wednesday, December 22 2004 19:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmed Badawi today (Dec 22, 2004) hoped that India and Malaysia would sign a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement during the proposed visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the South-East Asian nation.

"I hope discussions on this (agreement) can begin and be concluded soon, perhaps in time for the visit to Malaysia by the Prime Minister of India," Badawi told the Malaysia-India Business Forum meeting in Bangalore.

"If that happens, it will be another step forward in the bilateral relations between the two countries to their mutual benefit," he said.

Badawi said that in response to the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement he proposed, Singh had suggested that it be a comprehensive cooperation agreement which embraced even areas such as education.

"Elements of free trade will be included in the document for cooperation," he said.

Malaysia, Badawi said, was also keen to look at the prospects in India especially with regard to Business Processing Outsourcing, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, the film industry and higher education.

"I can also add that Malaysian companies are also hoping to collaborate with Indian companies to bid for projects in other countries," Badawi, who is accompanied by a ministerial and business delegation on a two-day visit to the city, said.