Pres Ali discusses digital technology, infrastructure with Indian External Affairs Minister

…arrives in Indore, India ahead of today’s Diaspora Convention

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday met with India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to have discussions on further strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

The two officials spoke about cooperation in the areas of energy, infrastructure, and digital technology, according to a post on President Ali’s Facebook page.
President Ali was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd; Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Anand Persaud; Director of Projects in the Office of the President, Marcia Nadir-Sharma, and other officials during the engagement.
India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa and other Indian officials also attended the meeting.
Minister Jaishankar also tweeted about the engagement, saying “An honour to call on Chief Guest of PBD [Pravasi Bharatiya Divas] Convention, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana. Discussed our deep and abiding people-to-people ties. Exchanged views on strengthening our bilateral cooperation.”
President Ali and his delegation are in India for an Official Visit during which the Guyanese Head of State will be bestowed with the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians – the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA).
On January 10, the Head of State will be conferred with the PBSA by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, as part of the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention (Indian Diaspora Day) being held from January 8-10, 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
President Ali, who is the Chief Guest at the upcoming PBD, will join 26 other persons of Indian origin/non-resident Indians who have been recognised by the Government of India for their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad for this year’s awards.
A jury-cum-awards committee, with the Vice-President of India as the Chairman, the External Affairs Minister of India as the Vice Chair and other distinguished members from various walks of life considered the nominations for the PBSAs 2023 and unanimously selected the awardees. The awardees represent the excellence achieved by the Indian Diaspora in various fields.
High Commissioner Srinivasa had stated that the Guyanese Leader’s visit to India for the PBD 2023 and subsequent interactions with the top political hierarchy, including President Murmu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will provide the necessary impetus for further strengthening bilateral partnerships between India and Guyana.
With the receipt of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, President Ali will join former Guyanese Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar who were also bestowed with this prestigious award in 2004 and 2015, respectively.
On Sunday morning, President Ali and his delegation arrived in the host city, Indore, to a warm welcome by Cabinet Ministers of the Indian Government, Members of Parliament, and local leaders.
On Sunday afternoon, the Guyanese Leader and his delegation were special invitees at a trade expo and cultural show held as part of the PBD convention.
President Ali visited several booths and interacted with patrons and exhibitors of the expo before attending the cultural show organised by the State Government of Madhya Pradesh.
President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, and High Commissioner Srinivasa were also at the event.
Meanwhile, during his visit to India, President Ali will also participate in the Pradesh Government Global Investors Summit and other engagements with officials of the Government of India and agencies/organisations of the Private Sector of India.
Other stakeholders from Guyana, including key Private Sector players, are also in India to participate in these engagements.
In his New Year’s message for 2023, High Commissioner Srinivasa had called upon Guyanese to work for the growth and success of Guyana and to play an active role in fulfilling “Guyana’s unique destiny”. (G8)