India says Kirit Vardhan Singh’s Cote d’Ivoire visit will strengthen growing bilateral ties….reports Africa Daily News Desk
India’s engagement with Africa received fresh impetus with Minister of State for External Affairs Kirit Vardhan Singh’s recent visit to Cote d’Ivoire, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, highlighting growing bilateral ties with the West African nation.
Singh visited Abidjan from August 6-8 at the invitation of the Cote d’Ivoire government to attend the country’s 66th National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour. The visit was aimed at further strengthening the momentum in India-Cote d’Ivoire relations and forms part of New Delhi’s wider engagement with African countries.
The MEA said the warm reception accorded to Singh and the Indian Armed Forces contingent accompanying him reflected the goodwill and friendship between the two countries.
During the visit, Singh attended the National Day celebrations and witnessed the participation of an Indian Armed Forces marching contingent in the National Day Parade. The participation marked a visible element of India’s diplomatic engagement with Cote d’Ivoire.
Singh also held bilateral discussions with Niale Kaba, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cote d’Ivoire. He separately called on President Alassane Ouattara.
The discussions covered a broad range of issues concerning bilateral relations, including economic and development partnership, defence and security cooperation, as well as people-to-people ties. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the multifaceted partnership between India and Cote d’Ivoire.
The MEA said Singh’s visit provided a “valuable opportunity” to consolidate the progress made in bilateral relations and build on the existing momentum between the two countries.
India and Cote d’Ivoire have been expanding their engagement across several areas, with development cooperation, trade, defence and people-to-people contacts forming key components of the relationship. New Delhi has also been seeking to deepen its partnerships with countries across Africa through political, economic and security cooperation.
An important part of Singh’s visit was his interaction with the Indian diaspora in Abidjan. The MEA said the Minister of State recognised the contribution of the Indian community to strengthening ties between the two countries.
“MoS appreciated the valuable contribution of the Indian community towards strengthening the bonds of friendship between India and Côte d’Ivoire, and reiterated the Government of India’s continued commitment to the welfare, safety and well-being of the Indian citizens overseas and the Indian diaspora,” the Ministry said.
The visit also underscored the role of the Indian diaspora in building closer links between India and African nations, particularly through community engagement and people-to-people connections.
The MEA said Singh’s visit was expected to impart further impetus to the growing India-Cote d’Ivoire partnership, while placing it within the broader framework of India’s expanding engagement with Africa.
The participation of Indian military personnel in the National Day parade, high-level political meetings and engagement with the Indian community together highlighted the wide-ranging nature of the relationship.
The visit comes as India continues to strengthen its diplomatic and development partnerships across the African continent, with New Delhi placing greater emphasis on cooperation in areas including economic development, defence and security, and capacity building.
