External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and the Dominican Republic between 21st April to 29th April 2023. This marks his first-ever official visit to all these Latin American countries and the Caribbean as a Union Minister of External Affairs of the government of India.
Details of his visit:Â
EAM’s 3-day Visit to Guyana:21st to 23rd April 2023:
During his 3 day visit, EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar co-chaired the Joint Commission Meeting with, H.E. Mr. Hugh Hilton Todd, Foreign Minister of Guyana. The meeting entailed discussions on the whole gamut of issues between India and Guyana.
i.He also held a meeting of Foreign Ministers in the India-COFCOR (Council on Foreign and Community Relations), a group of 15-member CARICOM (Caribbean Community) format and held bilateral meetings with participating Ministers.
ii.He also visited the site of the ongoing East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage project along with the Public Works Minister of Guyana Deodat Indar.
- The East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage Project is being developed by the Indian infrastructure company Ashoka Buildcon Limited.
- This road link will serve as a corridor for communities on the East Bank.
EAM co-chaired 4th India-CARICOM Ministerial Meeting with Jamaican counterpart
On 22nd April 2023, EAM Dr S. Jaishankar co-chaired the 4th India- CARICOM Ministerial Meeting with Kamina K Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica at CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana.
- He also met with Carla Natalie Barnett, Secretary General of the CARICOM in Guyana and discussed the efforts to intensify India-CARICOM ties.
India-Guyana Business Round Table:Â
EAM Dr S. Jaishankar participated in the India-Guyana Business Round Table held in Guyana on 23rd April 2023 along with Hugh Todd, Ashni Singh, Finance Minister of Guyana, and Deodat Indar, Public Works Minister of Guyana.
Key Points:
He addressed the India-Guyana Business Round Table and highlighted the increasing engagement between India and Latin America.
He also stated that the partnership between India and Guyana holds new possibilities and highlighted the new focus agreed upon by Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The focus areas include energy, health and pharma, technology, and defence. These sectors will play a major role in promoting the bilateral relationship between India and Guyana.
India & Guyana sign Air Services Agreement to allow easier travel
On 22nd April 2023, India and Guyana signed an Air Services Agreement (ASA) to facilitate easier travel between the two nations.
Signatories:Â
The agreement was signed by Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill, M.P and the High Commissioner of India to Guyana KJ Srinivasa, and in the presence of EAM Dr S. Jaishankar.
Points to note:
i.This agreement will complement the more than 50 Air Services Agreements Guyana has negotiated with other International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) governments for the advancement of interstate air travel.
ii.It also addresses important matters granting of Rights; Designation and Authorization of Airlines; Revocation or Suspension of Operating Authorization, Principles governing the operation of Agreed Services, and others.
GRSE-built ferry MV ‘Ma Lisha’ commissioned in Guyana
Dr S Jaishankar joined Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana in the commissioning ceremony of the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE)-built ocean-going passenger-cum-cargo ferry MV ‘Ma Lisha’ at Georgetown, Guyana.
Note:Â
The contract for the ferry boat worth USD 12.7 million was signed between the Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD), Guyana, and GRSE in January 2021.
About the Ferry MV ‘Ma Lisha’:Â
The 70 metres long ferry and propelled by two diesel engines can reach a top speed of 15 knots.
- This is the largest and fastest ferry to operate in the riverine and coastal parts of the northwest district of Guyana.
The Ferry (with a displacement of 1,700 tonnes) can carry 294 passengers (including a 14-member crew), 14 cars, 2 trucks, 14 containers and other assorted cargo.
EAM visits the monument of Indian arrival in Berbice, Guyana:
During his visit to Guyana, EAM Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, accompanied by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Guyana, Charles Ramson, visited the monument to Indian arrival in Berbice, Guyana.
Background:
On 5th May 1838, the year of the final abolition of slavery in the British West Indies, around 396 Indian immigrants known as the ‘Gladstone Coolies’ landed at Highbury, Berbice in British Guiana (Guyana) from Calcutta.
The monument featuring 6 bronze statues, donated by the government of India, was installed at Palmyra Village in Berbice during the Indian Arrival Day celebrations on 5 May 2019.
Note: The six bronze statues depict a Hindu man, a Muslim man, a Drum boy, a woman with bundle, a woman with tawa and cahary and a man with cutlass and rice plant.
EAM’s 2 day Visit to Panama from 24th to 25th April 2023
During his 2 day visit to Panama, Dr S. Jaishankar, EAM of India was hosted by Panama’s Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo.
- This is the 1st time in 60 years that an Indian External Affairs Minister was visiting Panama.
Highlights:Â
i.During his visit he met with Nito Cortizo, President of Panama and discussed the will to make an alliance with the Indian pharmaceutical industry to achieve quality, effective and cheaper medicines for Panamanians.
ii.He also met with Janaina Tewaney Mencomo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, and discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship.
iii.During his visit, he noted that India is exploring the possibility of opening a logistics hub for Indian companies in Panama.
- India’s trade with Latin America is growing and the trade volumes are nearing USD 50 billion level annually.
iv.He met the representatives of the eight-country Central American Integration System (SICA) during the India-SICA Foreign Ministerial Meeting.
- The SICA is an economic and political organisation of Central American countries.
v.He also met Indian-origin members of the National Civil Protection System in Panama.
EAM’s Visit to Colombia from 25th to 27th April 2023
During his visit to Colombia, EAM Dr S. Jaishankar met Alvaro Leyva Duran, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia and discussed the ways to boost bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on global issues, including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
On 27th April 2023, He participated in and addressed the India-Colombia business forum held in Bogota, Colombia during his visit.
- Addressing the business forum, he stated that Indian companies are executing projects in Latin America, including in infrastructure, power transmission and mining, he said, adding that they are also delivering products in the shipping and aviation domain.
Other Highlights of EAM’s visit:Â
EAM Dr S. Jaishankar and Alvaro Leyva Duran signed the Cultural Exchange Program for 2023-26 and discussed cooperation in sectors such as health, agriculture, digital infrastructure and more.
EAM also met Honorio Henriquez, second vice President of the Senate of Colombia, and discussed collaboration in the health, energy and technology sectors.
EAM’s Visit to the Dominican Republic from 27th to 29th April 2023
During his visit to the Dominican Republic, EAM Dr S. Jaishankar met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Roberto Alvarez, in the framework of the High-Level Political Dialogue on 28 April 2023 and discussed on bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
- This visit marked the highest-level visit to the Dominican Republic from India since diplomatic ties were established on 4th May 1999.
- He also paid a courtesy call to Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, and discussed the possibility of a future visit to India.
Key Points:Â
The ministers reiterated their interest in strengthening the political dialogue between the two countries, promoting democratic values and principles, peace, and security.
They also called for expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework.
Highlights of the visit:Â
i.EAM also unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, established in Santo Domingo and a pavilion dedicated to India at Faro a Colon Museum, as a sign of friendship between the people of both nations.
ii.On 28th April 2023, Roberto Alvarez and EAM Dr S. Jaishankar jointly inaugurated the Embassy of India in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in the presence of Raquel Pena, Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Eduardo Estrella, President of the Senate of the Dominican Republic and other cabinet ministers.
iii.Dr S. Jaishankar and Roberto Alvarez finalised negotiations on the following agreements:
- Protocol on Joint Economic and Trade Cooperation (JETCO) between the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry of the Republic of India, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Central Drug Standard Control Organization of India (CDSCO) of India and the Director of the General Directorate for Medicine, Food and Sanitary Products of the Dominican Republic (DIGEMAPS).
- An MoU between the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), the Ministry of AYUSH, and Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena (UNPHU) on the establishment of an ‘Academic Chair’ at the university.
iv.Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (MESCYT) of the Dominican Republic, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Delhi), International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Bangalore) signed framework agreements during EAM’s visit.
- These agreements will enable the inclusion of these Indian institutions in the Dominican Republic’s National Scholarship Program with the objective that Dominican students pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in India.
v.EAMÂ Dr S. Jaishankar and Roberto Alvarez agreed on the need to join the efforts to promote trade and investment through the regular exchange of business delegations between both nations.
- They also highlighted the relevance of the business meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, with the participation of a delegation of businessmen from the Confederation of Industries of India (CII), and the National Council of Private Enterprise of the Dominican Republic (CONEP).
- An MoU was signed between CII and CONEP in an effort to unite the private business sectors of both countries.
Recent Related News:
i.Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), visited the Republic of Cyprus from December 29 – 31, 2022 and the Republic of Austria from December 31, 2022 -January 3, 2023.
ii.From January 18-20, 2023, India’s Union Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) paid an official visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka.
About Ministry of External Affairs:
Union Minister– Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (Rajya Sabha- Gujarat)
Minister of State(MoS)– V Muraleedharan; Meenakashi Lekhi; Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
