Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari Sunday left for a two-nation tour to Czech Republic and Croatia during which several bilateral agreements on economic cooperation, social security and health care will be signed. In the first leg of the tour in Czech Republic, Ansari will meet President Vaclav Klaus, President of Senate Premysl Sobotka and sign three agreements on cooperation in economic and social issues. "Under the Social Security Agreement with Czech Republic, citizens working in either country for less than five years would be exempted from social security contributions," Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Vivek Katju told reporters here. Besides, the contributions of those who return after five years will also be protected through the proposed pact. Currently bilateral trade between India and Czech Republic stands at $1billion every year. "The Czech Republic supports India's bid for a permanent membership in UN Security Council and non-permanent seat in UNSC in 2011-12," Katju said. Ansari's three-day visit to Czech Republic will be the first after former President Shankar Dayal Sharma's tour to that country in 1996. During his two-day visit to Croatia beginning June 09, 2010, the Vice President will meet President Ivo Josipovic, Speaker of the Parliament Luka Bebic and sign two agreements on mutual cooperation in promotion of trade, health care and culture. "There are opportunities for enhancing cooperation with Croatia in areas like energy, infrastructure, information technology and tourism," Katju said. Annual bilateral trade between India and Croatia stands at $160 million. Croatia also supports India's bid for a permanent membership in the UN Security Council and non-permanent seat in UNSC in 2011-12. Ansari is accompanied by Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot and MPs Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Prasanta Chatterjee (CPI-M), Maya Singh (BJP) and Mohammed Azharuddin (Congress), the Press Trust of India reported.
