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Potential for defence cooperation

By K.K. Katyal

From among the countries of the former Soviet bloc, Poland offers bright prospects of cooperation with India, despite the current modest level of ties of ties. There are no political problems, no bilateral irritants, between the two countries — and this provides for a conducive setting for whatever steps they choose to take. Economic dealings are meagre but the reasons are identifiable and capable of being remedied. The scope for expansion, as noted by the Polish Prime Minister, Leszek Miller, is vast. The country's impending entry into the European Union is seen as a help, not a hindrance, in this context.

The representatives of both the Government and the private sector, which has already established itself, are equally optimistic. One of our first meetings with the Polish side here is with the Director of Asia and the Pacific in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan W. Piekarski. "Poland,'' he says, "has great interest in India. We are the biggest among the 10 candidates for entry into the E.U. We can be a valuable partner to our Asian friends. With India, there is a considerable potential for trade, industrial and technological cooperation. India is the most technological advanced country, with best computer experts and scientists.''

He makes a pointed reference to the possibilities of cooperation in the defence field. "As a member of NATO, we conform to its standards (as regards the armament) and a high level of sophistication,'' he adds, obviously suggesting that their defence items will be superior because of continuous updating.

Ship-building, mining and road-building are mentioned among the other areas where cooperation could be stepped up.

Similar sentiments are expressed by Jozef Tochowski, vice-president of the Polish Chamber of Commerce — an institution different from its counterparts elsewhere because it is constituted under an Act of Parliament and has specific rights and responsibilities, especially in matters related to promotion of economic cooperation with other countries. Though independent of the Government, it is invited to parliamentary committees for an advisory role. The problems faced by Poland in economic dealings with India, he feels, should be a thing of the past. He shares the official view on the potential for trade expansion, specifically mentioning the contribution that could be made by the private enterprise engaged in defence production.

Mr. Tochowski ascribes the low rate of economic growth in the recent past to various factors: 1) Poland was hit by the crisis in the world economy, in particular that of Russia, 2) it went through the privatisation process, with all the attendant problems. In the mining sector, to cite one case, some 100,000 workers had to be retrenched over the past three years, 3) it had to conform to E.U. standards involving crucial issues such as reduction in tariff. With these exercises now close to completion, he sees better days ahead on the economic front in dealings with India.

Nobody says so explicitly but Poland, it appears, would like to join the E.U. (January 1, 2004) with a strengthened relationship with New Delhi. That way, it would not feel handicapped against others in the Union (barring, of course, the U.K., Germany and France). As for trade with India, Poland is yet to reach the level of 1989-90, the last year of rupee trading (Rs. 268 crores, with India's exports at Rs. 125 crores). It dipped to Rs. 166 crores a year later, but in 2001 touched Rs. 251 crores. Modest, howsoever viewed. In the pre-1989 era, Indian exports had not reckoned with considerations of quality and competition. As in the case of Russia and others of the former Eastern bloc, industry in India will have to cope with the new challenge in Poland.

In the symbolic field, there are some notable factors linking India and Poland. Their significance is not to be minimised, though it would be unrealistic to treat them as major inputs in the efforts to enhance bilateral relations. There is, for instance, the case of the Polish boys who found a home in India during World War II. Some 5,000 Polish orphans deported from Siberia were offered hospitality by the then Jam Sahib of Jamnagar. They lived in camps in that State, Kolhapur and Panchgani, and later formed the World Association of Poles from India. As a gesture of gratitude, its members collected funds recently for relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake victims of Gujarat. One of the schools in Warsaw is named after the Jam Sahib.

In the 1950s, an international commission on Indo-China, headed by India, had Poland and Canada as members. Our Polish hosts drew attention to the strong tradition of Indology in their country, reflected, among others, in the translation of Sanskrit classics into Polish in the 19th century. The university at Cracow has an active department of Indology which organised the Second International Conference on Hindi Studies last year.

The period ahead presents new opportunities and new challenges. A case for redoubled efforts.

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