Visits

Detail

Transcript of Media Briefing by Secretary (ER) during visit of Vice President to Comoros

October 11, 2019

The Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri Venkaiah Naidu is on a two-nation state visit to Comoros and Sierra Leone. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation including Shri Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Hon’ble MoS for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying, Shri Ram Vichar Netam, Hon’ble Member of Parliament and senior officers of the government of India.

Hon’ble Vice President arrived last evening in Moroni, the capital of Comoros. He was received on arrival by the President of the Union of Comoros H.E. Mr. Azali Assoumani himself and members of his Cabinet and other dignitaries. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome as well as an enthusiastic reception on his way to the hotel.

Hon’ble Vice President’s visit is the first-ever high-level visit from India to Comoros.

Last evening, Hon’ble Vice President addressed the Indian community, where his speech was widely welcomed and received with enthusiasm. Comoros has a small but vibrant Indian community of around 250 PIOs and NRIs.

This morning the two leaders held official discussions at the Presidential House at delegation level as well as a tete-a-tete. Several Ministers of the Cabinet were present. The discussions were held in an exceptionally warm and friendly atmosphere.

H.E. President Azali Assoumani warmly welcomed Hon’ble Vice President and expressed his deep appreciation for the visit. He spoke of the close bonds which bind our two countries across the Indian Ocean. He recalled the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi in shaping the world in the 20th century. He also announced that Comoros will bring out a special postage stamp to honour Mahatma Gandhi during the 150th birth anniversary. He underlined the importance of India-Comoros bilateral cooperation for peace and security, especially in the Indian Ocean region.

H.E. President Assoumani expressed his happiness at the various agreements signed, especially in the areas of health, defence, culture, Foreign Office Consultations, etc. He mentioned about his 2030 Vision and programme to transform Comoros into an emerging economy.

The Foreign Minister of Comoros underlined commitment of Comoros to work with India in combatting terrorism, UNSC reform, implementation of SDGs, peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region, eradication of poverty, climate change etc. He requested for India’s continued support and sharing of India’s technical expertise and experience. As a co-founder of International Solar Alliance, Comoros will also look at India for solar projects. Comoros also conveyed its support for India’s membership of the UNSC.

Hon’ble Vice President recalled the historical and close bilateral relations and similar challenges being faced by both countries. He recalled the successful visit of the President of Comoros to India in March last year for the Founding Conference of the ISA and also other visits from Comoros to India. He thanked Comoros for their consistent support to India’s candidature at various international fora.

Hon’ble Vice-President underlined that our maritime security is interlinked and recalled Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a collaborative security architecture in the Indian Ocean. Both sides signed an MoU on Defence Cooperation. India also announced a grant of US $ 2 million for interceptor boats to Comoros and a LoC of US $ 20 million for procurement of High speed Interceptor Boats.

Both sides vowed to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In this context, Hon’ble Vice-President thanked Comoros for their condemnation of the terror attacks against Indian security forces in Pulawama in February this year.

Hon’ble Vice-President also expressed India’s desire to share our development experience, expertise and partnership with Comoros. In this context he recalled the LoC being extended by India of US $ 41.6 million for setting up of a 18 MW power plant in Moroni and another grant assistance for a Vocational Training Centre. He indicated India’s readiness to take forward our development cooperation in solar energy projects, capacity building, especially under ITEC and ICCR, and expressed his happiness on singing the MoU on e-VBAB tele-education and tele-medicine Pan-Africa project being undertaken in Africa by India, which was launched on 7 October earlier this month by External Affairs Minister.

India also announced the gifting of medicines worth US$ 1 million, transport vehicles for US$ 1 million and 1000 MT of rice. An MoU on Arts and Culture was also signed. The two sides noted that India was the second largest trade partner of Comoros and welcomed greater inward investment from Indian companies, and for ramping up the trade links.

A MoU on Health Cooperation was also signed and both side noted that many Comorians chose India for medical treatment. Hon’ble Vice-President thanked H.E. President Assoumani for looking after the welfare of the Indian community in Comoros and appreciated the Indian community for contributing significantly to the Comorian economy and society.

In a unique honour, H.E. President Assoumani conferred on Hon’ble Vice-President, the highest decoration of Comoros - ‘Commander of Order of the Green Crescent of Comoros’. Hon’ble Vice-President accepted the honour on behalf of the 1.3 billion people of India and as a symbol of India-Comoros friendship, calling Indian Ocean as an ‘Ocean of Friendship’.

H.E. President Assoumani hosted a banquet lunch in honour of Hon’ble Vice-President. Later this afternoon, in yet another rare gesture, Hon’ble Vice-President will be addressing the National Assembly of Comoros. This will be first time that a high dignitary from India has been invited to address the Parliament of Comoros.

Tomorrow Hon’ble Vice-President and the delegation will be leaving for Sierra Leone on the second leg of his visit to Africa.

******************



Comments

Post A Comment

  • Name *
    E-mail *
  • Write Your Comment *
  • Verification Code * Verification Code