New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) India and Bahrain - home to a 260,000-strong Indian diaspora - are expected to sign two agreements in the areas of media and culture Tuesday in the presence of Crown Prince Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad al Khalifa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Shaikh Salman comes on his 'India mission' Monday evening - his first visit to the country that also includes stopovers at the Taj city of Agra and Mumbai - that is set to intensify business and cultural ties between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed al Khalifa and Industry and Commerce Minister Hassan Fakhro and a high-profile business delegation are accompanying the crown prince on this visit to India, an emerging power and a knowledge hub.
Tuesday is a busy day for Shaikh Salman with back-to-back calls by senior ministers that end with a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his 7 Race Course Road residence.
His official engagements start Tuesday morning with talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee followed by meetings with Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan.
The crown prince will call on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and discuss with him a host of bilateral issues.
In the afternoon, the prince will address top business leaders of India at an interactive meeting at Hotel Maurya Sheraton.
The next day, Shaikh Salman will open Bahrain's embassy in the plush Vasant Vihar area Wednesday and also address a select gathering at the Indian Council for World Affairs - a premier Indian think tank.
The focus of the prince's maiden visit to India is on accelerating business and investment between India and Bahrain.
"The visit is expected to substantially strengthen bilateral ties and enhance the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries," the external affairs ministry said while announcing the crown prince's visit last week.
India-Bahrain bilateral trade was estimated to be around $575 million in 2005, with Indian exports being $157 million and imports $418 million.
Shaikh Salman and his delegation will leave for Agra to see the Taj Mahal Wednesday afternoon. The crown prince will then leave for Mumbai, where he will have meetings with the city's business elite.
On Thursday morning, Shaikh Salman will visit aircraft carrier INS Virat at the Naval Dockyard. He will also visit the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Tata Consultancy Services before returning to Bahrain Thursday evening.