Tuesday, February 7 2006 11:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Seoul: India and South Korea today (Feb 7,2006) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in science and technology as President A P J Abdul Kalam hinted that a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could be considered within the ambit of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The MoU, signed here between India's Department ofScience and Technology and Korea Industrial Technology Foundation, envisages sharing of work for promoting technology innovation and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

Addressing the captains of South Korean industry and business, Kalam said in response to a question, "I will examine if the FTA (between India and South Korea) could be considered within the ambit of the CEPA."

The President is on a three-day visit to South Korea, the first by an Indian head of state to the country.

The MoU signed in the South Korean capital also provides for exchange of human resources, technological information, research trends and commercialisation opportunities of mutual interest.

Technology transfer, co-hosting of investment fairs and seminars and providing industrial technology-related education to work force development in universities of India and South Korea are also envisaged.