New Delhi, May 9: During his visit to Suriname, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a press conference following an event on Friday. He stated that everyone gathered to witness a significant milestone in the cooperation and friendship between India and Suriname.
The minister expressed his happiness in participating in this important transfer ceremony. Addressing media inquiries about India’s agricultural journey, he noted that over the past decade, India’s agricultural progress has been supported by policies, resource collaboration, technology utilization, and, most importantly, value addition. This agricultural journey is not just about food and economic security; it represents a major step towards inclusive development. Today, I want to reiterate this message as we come together to hand over this crucial Micro and Small Enterprise Development Project related to Suriname’s food processing industry.
Jaishankar explained that a few years ago, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to the Global South and discussions during the India-CARICOM ministerial meeting, an agreement was reached on such projects. Being present in Suriname for this project’s transfer is personally gratifying for me. We fully understand that when such projects were offered to our CARICOM partner countries, Suriname prioritized the fruit processing unit and selected this location for the plant. We appreciate that its aim is to help local enterprises learn management skills, gain experience, and develop the value addition you mentioned. This will create new opportunities for local farmers and empower rural women.
Jaishankar also mentioned that he learned about the government’s efforts to promote passion fruit cultivation through incentive schemes. He was pleased to know that this machinery could also be used for other fruits in the future. While we are discussing a specific project in a particular area, I believe this initiative sends a strong message about India’s partnership with Suriname and the entire Global South. Our commitment to the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ goes beyond mere words. It is reflected in specific projects and concrete actions, and I believe this is an excellent example of that.
He emphasized that our cooperation has always been people-centric. If you look at our relations over the past few years, you will find a direct impact on the lives of ordinary people. Some of our recent initiatives include food supply, donation of military uniforms, quick impact projects, and early warning systems for disaster preparedness. All these steps convey the message that true friendship should ultimately bring about change in people’s lives. Over the past several decades, the Suriname government has benefited from India’s line of credit facilities. In our discussions, we also explored the possibility of further advancing this cooperation according to your government’s priorities in the future.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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