Press Release

Visit of MOS (AS) to Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast

15/01/2009

MOS (AS)’s Visits to Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast in West Africa, January 12-15, 2009

Minister of State for External Affairs and Information & Broadcasting, Mr. Anand Sharma, paid successful and highly productive official visits to two West African countries, namely Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, from January 12-15, 2009. The visits have lent the much-required political thrust to India’s bilateral relations with these countries. The warmth and enthusiasm with which the Presidents of both the countries received the Minister is reflective of the significance they attach to their ties with India, as also the high esteem in which they hold our country. The President of Ivory Coast, Mr. Laurent Gbagbo’s impromptu decision to confer upon the Minister their highest civilian award, namely the Commander of the National Order of Merit, is in recognition of his distinct role in strengthening India’s relationship with Ivory Coast and the African continent.

The Minister’s hectic schedule in both the countries was marked by his meetings with their Presidents, Foreign Ministers and other key Cabinet Ministers. Deliberations with them centered around India’s growing economic ties, a broad congruence of views on multilateral issues, principally the UN reform and UNSC expansion, reshaping of global financial architecture, and above all, the vociferous condemnation of the Mumbai terror attack and the forces behind it and expression of solidarity with India in its combat against terror.

Recognition of India’s leadership role, its economic strength, and above all, its willingness to share its expertise, technology and development experience was clearly evident during Minister’s visit to the two West African countries. India’s wide-ranging programmes of bilateral aid and assistance for them, encompassing areas like agriculture, education, health, capacity building, infrastructure and IT etc. have benefited large segments of their societies and have evoked a wide recognition of India’s contribution to their socio-economic development. An IT & BT Park, being set up in Ivory Coast with India’s assistance, and named after Mahatma Gandhi by the President of Ivory Coast, will likely emerge as a shining example of the Indo-Ivorian co-operation.

The signing of a Joint Technical and Economic Co-operation Agreement by the Minister and his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura; the handing over of the 200 military barracks (out of 400) to Sierra Leone as the Government of India’s gift, and participation in the inauguration of the Ministry of External Affairs-funded Centre for Demonstration and Promotion of Technologies in Abidjan were some of the highlights of the Minister’s visit to the two countries.

New Delhi
January 15,2008