Bahrain and India have signed agreements to increase co-operation in the areas of education, investment, defence and other sectors.

It took place during the first meeting of the India-Bahrain High Joint Commission (HJC) in New Delhi, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The Bahrain delegation headed by Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa chaired the meeting along with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj.

They discussed co-operation in education, trade, investment and commerce, security and defence, as well as media and communication, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Officials also agreed to begin negotiations on a memorandum of understanding on defence co-operation and internal security.

Bahrain also asked to resume negotiations on an agreement on avoidance of double taxation, initiated in 1998, and expressed willingness to consider investment in India.

An agreement on water resources development and management was signed during the meeting. It was also agreed a second HJC meeting would be held in Manama in 2017.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Khalid met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday and handed over a letter of invitation from His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to visit Bahrain. - TradeArabia News Service