MEETING: Iranian sports minister calls on CM

Chandigarh, December 13, 2012:The Punjab Government would soon set up a wrestling academy in collaboration with Iranian government to promote the traditional sport of wrestling, after the grand success of Kabaddi at the international scene, as Iran was known for its expertise, infrastructure and agile wrestlers across the world. 

A decision to this was effect was taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting with the Iranian Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mohammad Abbasi who called on him here at Chief Minister’s residence this morning.   

Accompanied by the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal the Iranian Minister agreed for signing of the MoU in this behalf as a goodwill gesture which would further strengthen bilateral ties between Iran and India especially Punjab.  He also expressed keen desire to send wrestling coaches from Iran to Punjab to train the Punjabi wrestlers so as to enable them to exhibit their rare talent and skills in wrestling at the international arena. 

Enthused by the stupendous efforts made by the Punjab government to promote Kabaddi at the global scene by holding World Kabaddi Championships since 2010, Abbasi congratulated the Chief Minister for this unique initiative.  He especially lauded the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister, who is also holding the portfolio of Sports in popularising Kabaddi as a traditional sport at international level.   

He also urged Badal to send Kabaddi coaches to Iran to train their players as the Punjabi Kabaddi players were far better than their Iranian counterparts.  He invited the Chief Minister to visit Iran for signing the MoU there for the wrestling academy to be set up in Punjab jointly by the Punjab and Iranian government.   He highly appreciated the role of Punjabi Diaspora settled in Iran especially the Sikh community in the overall development and progress of Iran. 

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister expressed his willingness to promote bilateral trade and commerce ties between Iran and Punjab through the national governments of India and Iran.  He said that Punjab being a major producer of rice could export to Iran and in return India could import Urea from Iran, which was the largest producer in the World.   

Sukhbir Singh Badal apprised the Chief Minister that Iran was the biggest rice consuming country where Punjab’s 1121 rice quality was exported from here.  He hoped both Punjab and Iran could mutually work out a mechanism to promote trade and commerce relations in a big way. 

The Chief Minister also impressed upon the visiting Iranian Minister to send Iranian students for higher studies in Punjab as the state was offering excellent educational infrastructure both at college and university level in humanities, legal, technical and medical stream.  He also emphasised the need for exchange of delegations of eminent industrialists, progressive farmers and students between Iran and India especially from Punjab to further foster a sense of mutual understanding, goodwill, peace and amity amongst the people of both countries. 

Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Advisor to Chief Minister (National Affairs and Media) Harcharan Bains, Gaggandip Singh Brar and KJS Cheema both Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister.