Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will be visiting Guatemala, Panama and Peru from May 6-11. This will be the first bilateral visit of the Vice President under this Government to Central and South American region.
“India attaches importance to its relations with the latin American Countries and has friendly relations with all 33 countries of the region. Over the last few years our relations with the region both in terms of our political engagement as well as our trade and commercial engagement has intensified significantly,” said Preeti Saran, Secretary (East) in Ministry of External Affairs.
lAC region is important for India for geo-political and geo-strategic reasons. There are 33 countries in this region that together account for 1/6th of the membership of the United Nations. The region is also important for India’s energy and security needs. India is planning to host the second India-lAC Conclave in Chile this year, which will help the region gain sharper focus. Besides, the Caribbean region will also gain focus with India-CARICOM Business event in July this year.
Saran added that the presence of nearly one million Indian diaspora which is culturally and emotionally attached to India adds a special dimension to the relationship. “Trade and investment is one of the main drivers of our relationship. From $2 billion in 2000, trade grew to $46 b in 2014-2015. The total trade experienced a decline due to global downturn and fall in hydrocarbon prices and reached $30 billion in 2016-17. Still the scope and potential for further improving trade and cooperation is huge,” Saran said.
Naidu’s visit will pave way for higher cooperation in the field of space, telematic tracking, satellite fabrication, science and technology including biotechnology. India is also looking forward to enhance its commercial and economic profile in the region through investments in pharmaceuticals, medical equipments, mining equipments, engineering and automobile equipments, infrastructure etc .
Naidu will be in Guatemala from May 6-7 during which he will hold talks with his counterpart Jafeth Cabrera. Agreements in the field of protection of wildlife, human resource training, education, exchanges between training institutes is on cards. In Panama on May 8-9 Naidu has engagements with the top leaders of the country. He will also meet the Indian community there and address the students of International Studies in the University of Panama and Panamanian diplomats. He will be in Peru from May 10-11 where apart from talks with top leadership, he will have interaction with the Indian community and visits to places of historic and cultural importance.
Peru joined India-France led International Solar Alliance as a founding member and supports India’s candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed and expanded security council at the United Nations.