Embassy of India

ABIDJAN - COTE D'IVOIRE

Hon. Shri V. Muraleedharan,  Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs had a virtual  interaction with the Indian Community in Cote d'Ivoire on 8^th December 2021 from 1930 to 2020 hours (IST).  The MOS  fondly  recalled his interaction  the community  during  his visit to Cote d’Ivoire on 6 September 2019. 

 

2.        The Minister discussed with the Indian community members  as to how we could further strengthen our flourishing bilateral ties with Cote d’Ivoire. The suggestion made by the Indian community were duly noted by the MOS who assured the community members  that he would take appropriate follow up action on them.

 

3.        The Minister said that the virtual   meeting reflected Government of India’s strong desire to continue to engage with the diaspora  in this region. He expressed his appreciation of the community for the achievements and the contributions they make both to Cote d’Ivoire  and India.

 

4.        The Minister mentioned that  India and Cote d’Ivoire have successfully partnered in the development cooperation sector; in capacity building  through the ITEC programme and through scholarships provided by ICCR.  The  Mahatma Gandhi IT and Biotechnology Centre, inaugurated in June 2019, is a shining  example of  India’s commitment in the development cooperation sector.  

 

5.        The Minister mentioned that new  variant  of  concern  ‘Omicron’  had  arisen  causing  renewed  concern  and  anxiety  for  common  people  and  countries  of  the  world.   India  was deeply  impacted  by  the  second  wave of  the pandemic  earlier  this  year.  The  Government  swung  into  swift  action soon  after   and  have  ramped  up  medical  infrastructure,  personnel  training   and  manufacture  of   Made in  India vaccines.   India   so  far  administered over  127  crore  vaccine  doses under the  Nationwide Vaccination Drive and  currently 

 

 

our  active  cases  account  for  less  than  1% of  the total cases. He also noted with satisfaction   that  Made  in India  vaccines have supported vaccination drives  including  supply of  504,000 Covishield  doses  under  COVAX  and   donation  of  another 50,000  Covishield  doses  to  Cote d’Ivoire  He also conveyed Government’s   willingness  to   export   Covishield  and  Covaxin  doses. 

 

6.        The Ministry appealed  to the Indian Community to think ahead and to support  our flagship schemes be it ‘Digital India’, ‘Skill India’, ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’,   ‘Start Up India’ or “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.  The expertise and exposure of the Indian diaspora   could help in accelerating India’s journey to become a US$ 5 trillion economy in the near future and meet the rightful expectations of millions  of those who now  comprise the “new” and “aspirational” India.

 

Abidjan

8 December, 2021