Official Visit of Minister of State for External Affairs General Dr. V.K. Singh (Retd.) to Colombia (October 3-5, 2018)
October 05, 2018
- The Minister of State for External Affairs, General V.K. Singh (Retd.) paid an official visit to Colombia from 3rd to 5th October 2018. This was the first Ministerial level visit from India to Colombia following taking over by President H.E. Mr. Ivan Duque
in August this year.
- H.E. Mr. Carlos Holmes Trujillo, Colombia's Foreign Minister recalled the meeting between him and Smt. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister of India on the sidelines of UNGA on 24 September 2018.
- The Ministers comprehensively reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.
- India and Colombia stressed the need for further deepening of political ties, expansion of bilateral trade and investment in areas such as IT, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture, urban planning & development, renewable energy, Orange economy, Industry
4.0, rural development, Startups, financial inclusion etc.
- Colombia thanked India for its assistance in human resource development. India has offered additional 15 ITEC slots. This will raise the number of slots offered by India from 60 to 75. In the area of studies of Indian culture. India has raised the current
4 slots to 10 to cater to increasing interest in Indian culture, yoga etc. among Colombians. Colombia appreciated the role played by India in training its English language teachers. In the last 4 years over 100 Colombian school teachers have been trained in
India.
- India and Colombia noted that bilateral trade valued currently at US$1.5 bn offered excellent scope for further expansion. It is hoped that the Joint Study for negotiating Partial Scope Agreement to enhance bilateral trade will be finalised soon.
- During the visit, following MOUs aimed at enhancing institutionalized cooperation in these areas for mutual benefit were signed:
i) Joint Interpretative Declaration on Bilateral Investment and Protection Agreement
ii) Traditional Systems of Medicine; and
iii) Tourism Development Cooperation
- MOS(VKS) addressed the Indian community at a reception. He noted that Indian community enjoys good reputation and is admired for its skills. He briefed them on the developments taking place in India including the achievements of the last four and a half
years of the NDA government.
- India and Colombia in 2019 will be celebrating 60 years of establishment of diplomatic relations and decided that this historic milestone be celebrated in a befitting manner.
- The visit provided an opportunity to engage with the new Colombian Government and further cement our mutually beneficial ties with Colombia.
Bogota
October 05, 2018