FOREWORD
I am delighted that the ‘Diplomatist Magazine’ plans a Special
Report on Paraguay-India relations, coinciding with 61 Years of
Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.
In 2019 our country is celebrating its 208 years of independence.
Paraguay’s nickname is the “Land link of South América” (the Heart of
South America). The name refers to its strategic location in the center
of the South American continent, with 406.752 square kilometers and
a population of only 7.5 million. Guarani & Spanish are the offi cial
languages spoken here. Distance between India and Paraguay is only
geographic since we both share common values like democracy,
diversity, family, traditional medicine and spirituality.
In the diplomatic sphere, I think there is a natural process, in
the sense that we opened our embassy in Delhi only in 2006 and
obviously in time we can both have them go forward. India and
Paraguay exchanged only a couple of high-level visits in this century,
in 2012, the Honorable President of Paraguay, Mr. Fernando Lugo
Mendez visited India. Most recently, Vice President of India, Shri M.
Venkaiah Naidu had the fi rst high-level visit to Paraguay since the
establishment of our diplomatic relations in 1961.
Along this journey, India and Paraguay have worked together
in a constructive and positive manner. These have refl ected during
the meeting of H.E. Vice President Naidu, with the President of
Paraguay, H.E. Mr. Mario Abdo Benitez, Vice President H.E. Mr.
Hugo Velazquez as well as with President of the National Congress
(Senate), H.E. Mr. Silvio Ovelar. The meetings were warm and
friendly and there was a commitment on both sides to strengthen
and deepen relations. President Abdo recalled his visit to India about
25 years ago as a student of which he had very fond memories. As
democracies, having a similar demographic profi le with youth forming
more than 65% of their respective populations, India and Paraguay
have similar aspirations as well as the need for imparting requisite
skills to their youth. Both sides agreed to share experiences in this area.
They stated that India could count on Paraguay´s support in
the fi ght against terrorism and in raising concerns about threats of
terrorism in the international fora. President Abdo Benitez and Vice
President Velazquez were appreciative of the economic growth in
India and noted that it contributes to global growth. India with its
technological strength and Paraguay as a major food producer have
natural complementarities for further strengthening of bilateral trade
and economic ties. Paraguay itself was a growing economy and India
should look at Paraguay as a strategic economic hub to reach out to
countries in Latin America. They invited Indian companies to invest
in Paraguay.
The two sides agreed that strategic dialogue, must be pushed
forward through high added value in new areas of collaboration
including in hydel and solar, health including traditional medicine,
Information and Communication Technology, farming and agriculture
machinery, space and biotechnology, railways and tourism-related
infrastructure. Specifi c areas discussed included agro-processing,
the supply of equipment like tractors from India, hydel energy sector
modernization, the supply of medical equipment and generic medicine
that could be useful to the Paraguayan healthcare system.
During this visit, the dignitaries of India and Paraguay tasked
their teams to facilitate promotion of exchanges between academics
and universities and between travel professionals and stakeholders in
tourism. Emphasizing the importance of people-to-people contact, it
was agreed to increase tourism between the two countries. We are
also working towards a more business-friendly visa regime for Indian
business persons and visitors.
Paraguay joined in with India to celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary
of Mahatma Gandhi and, in this context, Vice President Naidu
announced the gifting of a Mahatma Gandhi statue to Paraguay for
which a suitable location is being identifi ed by Mayor of Asuncion.
India welcomed issue of a commemorative postal stamp by Paraguay
in Asuncion, which was launched jointly by Vice President Naidu
and Vice President Velazquez. President Abdo Benitez informed Vice
President Naidu that Mahatma Gandhi was a great inspiration for him.
They also appreciated the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
initiative launched by India in 2015, and as Representative of
Paraguay, I will be signing the ISA agreement shortly. To follow
up on the decisions taken at this high-level meeting, the third round
of Foreign Offi ce Consultations would be held in 2019 itself. Vice
President Naidu invited the President and Vice President of Paraguay
to visit India at mutually convenient dates.
I fi rmly believe that India must move towards better strategic
ties and deeper involvement not only in our country but also in the
entire Latin America and Caribbean region. The momentum is quite
appropriate; therefore, I think that soon this objective will be achieved.
Our vision for the future is a deepening and strengthening of the
relationship between two friends and partners through a sharing of
our strengths for a win-win partnership for both sides and ultimately
for the welfare of our citizens.
Best wishes,
Fleming Duarte
Ambassador of Paraguay to India