New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita paid official visits to the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago from August 15-24, which helped reinforce India’s long standing relations with these Latin American and Caribbean countries and provided a positive momentum to the bilateral engagement.
In the Dominican Republic, MOS Margherita attended the inauguration of the 2nd term of President Luis Abinader and met with Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez. Bilateral discussions during the visit focussed on diverse aspects of the collaborative ties covering political, economic, cultural, pharma, developmental Partnership sectors among others.
In Guatemala, the MOS met President César Bernardo Arévalo de León and Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez. Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in several areas including trade and investment, technical and development cooperation, infrastructure development and healthcare. MOS held a productive meeting with Members of Congress and Mayors and emphasised on enhancing parliamentary exchanges. The visit to Guatemala also included meetings with the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala, Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF) and Guatemalan Exporters Association – AGEXPORTS, a statement said.
In El Salvador, MOS Margherita called on President Nayib Bukele and met with Foreign Minister Ms. Alexandra Hill Tinoco. MOS and FM Hill witnessed the launch of pilot projects developed by CDOT (India) in El Salvador for Cyber Security, Early Warning System and Cell Broadcasting System, and also the signing of an MoU on Cyber Security. Further, MOS handed over the first instalment of HADR relief material to Foreign Minister; this relief material is a part of the total 50 tons being delivered in three instalments to those affected in El Salvador by the tropical storm of June 2024.
In Panama, MOS Margherita called on President José Raúl Mulino and held a bilateral delegation-level meeting with Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, and other officials including Panama’s Minister of Commerce & Industry; Vice Ministers from Foreign Affairs and Health; Director General of National Immigration Service; experts from Panama Pacifico, and representatives from the National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The discussions reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations and highlighted areas for deeper cooperation, including capacity building, pharmaceuticals, development partnership, science, technology and innovation, renewable energy and green hydrogen, IT and digitization.
MOS also visited Panama Canal and Panama Pacifico; inaugurated the new office space of an Indian BPO IT company based in Panama Pacifico; and, unveiled a ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ wall in its premises. MOS Margherita planted two saplings under the initiative Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, one each at the University of Panama and Panama Pacifico.
The visit of MOS Margherita to Trinidad and Tobago was the first Ministerial-level visit from India to Trinidad & Tobago since April 2017. MOS paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Keith Rowley. He held wide-ranging discussions with Senator Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, on areas of mutual interest, including collaboration in digital transformation, health, agriculture, sports and cultural exchanges. Both the Ministers also signed an Agreement on gainful employment of dependents of members of their diplomatic mission or consular post. MOS also visited the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago (Red House) and paid a courtesy call on Senator Nigel de Freitas, President of the Senate and Bridgid Annisette-George, MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Further, at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation, MOS inaugurated an exhibition on ‘Ramleela traditions in the Caribbean region’.
During his five-nation tour to countries in Latin America and Caribbean, MOS Margherita attended Indian community receptions and interacted with the Indian diaspora. He also paid floral tributes at the statues of Mahatma Gandhi in Santo Domingo, Guatemala, University of Panama and Port of Spain.
The visit of MOS to these five countries reinforced our long-standing relations with these countries; provided a positive momentum to our engagement; and, created positivity and goodwill that will help deepen and diversify our relationship with the Latin American and Caribbean region, the statement added.
