He held a meeting with Indian ambassadors to Austria, France, Belgium, portugal, Greece and Spain on trade promotion and necessary approaches for meeting the challenges posed by the European Union.

The visit provided an opportunity to establish contacts in many countries of the European Union and to highlight concerns on trade protectionism and the need to operate within the framework of GATT principles governing multilateral trade.

During the visit the commerce minister had a meeting Elio Di Rupo, deputy prime minister of Belgium and ministers for foreign trade, economy and telecommunications. He also called on the Belgian crown prince who is slated to visit India with a business delegation nextmonth.

In Netherlands the minister had discussions with Gerrit Ybema, minister for foreign trade on matters relating to promotion of Indian flower exports. Presently high import duties levied by Holland have reduced the competitiveness of Indian flower exports. In two separate addresses to Dutch businessmen and NRIs, the minister allayed apprehensions about slowing down the process of reforms.

In Luxembourg, the minister had meetings with Jacques Poos, deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and foreign trade and cooperation, Lydic Err, secretary of state for foreign affairs, foreign trade and cooperation and public works and Robert Goebbels, minister for economy. Issues and problems relating to trade promotion by facilitating air cargo movements and avoidance of double taxation and access to markets for Indian goods in European Union were discussed. The prime minister of Luxembourg is due to visit India in January 1999.