Prez Ram Nath Kovind to embark on a three nation visit from June 16

New Delhi, June 13: Intending to reach every nook and corner, building strong diplomatic relations with each and every country, President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to embark a three-nation trip to Greece, Suriname, and Cube from June 16. This visit will help solidify India’s connection with the countries and bring in new developments.

While touring on the diplomatic visit, President Ram Nath Kovind will be accompanied by, Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai, two Members of Parliament and other officials. Briefing the media, Subrata Bhattacharjee (Central Europe) in the External Affairs Ministry, said that Kovind will reach Greece on June 16 at the invitation of Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulus.

He will hold a meeting with Pavlopoulus as well as with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Leader of the Opposition Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Prez Kovind will also meet Indian and Greek CEOs and deliver a speech on "India and Europe in a Changing World" at the Hellenic Foundation for Europe and Foreign Policy, a leading Greek think tank.

 

According to Bhattacharjee, India-Greece bilateral trade stands at $530 million and some Indian companies are also present in the infrastructure, pharmaceutical and steel sectors in that central European nation. With Greece being home to a 12,000-strong Indian diaspora, Kovind will also interact with members of the community.

From Greece, Kovind will leave for Suriname on June 19 in what will be the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to that South American nation. Partha Satpathy, Joint Secretary (Latin America and the Caribbean), said that Prez Kovind's visits to Suriname and Cuba are a reflection of New Delhi giving more importance from this year to ties with Latin America.

While in Suriname at the invitation of President Desi Bouterse, following official talks, some agreements are expected to be signed, including on health and information technology. India will offer some lines of credit as part of development assistance.

With 37% of Suriname's population being people of Indian origin, Kovind will also lay the foundation of a Vivekananda Cultural Centre. Most of these Indian-origin people are descendants of indentured labor brought to work in sugarcane plantations, the first batch of whom arrived in 1873.

On June 21, Kovind will participate in activities as part of the International Yoga Day. From Suriname, he and his delegation will leave for Cuba which again will be the first-ever presidential visit from India to that country. Satpathy said that both India and Cuba are important partners in the global South-South cooperation.

Further, he informed that Prez Kovind will interact with Cuba's new leadership under President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Four agreements are expected to be signed, including in the areas of biotechnology and traditional and alternative systems of medicine.

Kovind will conclude his visit on April 23.