India’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, toured five Caribbean and Central American countries from August 16 to 24, the Foreign Ministry announced.
Margherita began her tour of the Dominican Republic on Thursday, where she participated in the formal swearing-in ceremony of Luis Abinader as president-elect and will meet with representatives of the diaspora as part of her two-day schedule in the Dominican Republic.
From 17 to 19 August, the Indian diplomat completed a program of activities in Guatemala, which included meetings with President Cesar Arevalo and Foreign Minister Carlos Martinez to discuss relations between the two countries.
She also talked with members of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala, the Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (Cacif) and tour Antigua, the UNESCO World Heritage City.
On August 19 in El Salvador, Margherita met with the Head of State Nayib Bukele and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Hill.
She also held a series of ministerial exchanges and engagements in El Salvador and interacted with the Indian community settled there.
Her agenda in Panama from August 20-22 included a delegation-level meeting with Foreign Minister Javier Martinez, a visit to President Jose Mulino and the University of Panama, where she laid a wreath at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi and planted a tree as a symbolic gesture.
She also toured the Panama Canal and the Panama Pacifico Free Trade/Industry Zone and interacted with the diplomatic community and prominent members of the Indian diaspora during a reception organized in her honor.
Finally, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Indian diplomat met with Prime Minister Keith Rowley and Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), and held discussions with the diaspora.
For New Delhi, Pabitra Margherita’s visit to these five countries reaffirms India’s commitment to further strengthen its ties with the Latin American and Caribbean region.
In addition, Indian authorities point out that it provides an opportunity to explore and advance the partnership of both regions in new areas of mutual interest. (PL)
