The First India-CELAC Troika Foreign Ministerial Meeting will be held on August 7, 2012 in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister Shri S. M. Krishna will lead the Indian delegation and Foreign Minister of Chile, Mr. Alfredo Moreno Charme will lead the CELAC Troika. Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Mr. Nicolas Maduro and Vice Foreign Minister of Cuba, Mr, Rogelio Sierra will participate in the Meeting as members of the Troika.
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is a newly formed regional group comprising of 33 Sovereign States of Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) region. Chile holds the pro-tempore Presidency of CELAC till January 2013. LAC has a land mass 5 times that of India and is endowed with vast mineral resources and hydrocarbons. It has about 600 million inhabitants.
India enjoys friendly and warm relations with all CELAC countries. They have a shared understanding on the values of democracy, freedom, equality and justice. India’s trade with the region is over US$ 25 billion in 2011 and cumulative investments are estimated to be US$ 16 billion mostly in Hydrocarbons, Minerals, Agriculture, Pharma and IT. There exists a vast untapped potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors.
The meeting will provide a unique platform for both sides to discuss a vision for building India-CELAC relations. Both sides will also discuss various regional developments and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
New Delhi
August 02, 2012
