External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met his Ecuadorian counterpart, Gabriela Sommerfeld, on Wednesday and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in key sectors such as trade, agriculture and capacity building.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Pleased to welcome FM Gabriela Sommerfeld Rosero of Ecuador, who is on her first visit to India. We discussed ways to deepen cooperation, including in trade, health, agriculture, digital and capacity building. Will cooperate closely in multilateral forums.”
He welcomed Ecuador’s decision to initiate the process of joining the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). He noted that Ecuador is already a member of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
The EAM also announced that an agreement had been reached on funding for the implementation of Quick Impact Projects.
“The agreement on funding for the implementation of Quick Impact Projects is a step forward in deepening our development partnership,” Jaishankar said.
The Ecuadorian Foreign Minister arrived in New Delhi earlier in the day for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Warmly welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility Ms Gabriela Sommerfeld Rosero of Ecuador on her arrival in New Delhi today. Her visit will further strengthen ties between India and Ecuador.”
Sommerfeld, who is also Ecuador’s Minister of Human Mobility, is scheduled to visit Rajghat and pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi before meeting Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita later in the evening.
Last November, Margherita visited Ecuador on an official trip and called on President Daniel Noboa Azin, holding discussions on enhancing and diversifying bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
During the visit, Margherita also held talks with Ecuadorian ministers, vice ministers and officials to deepen cooperation across key sectors, including agriculture, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, training, education, culture, tourism, trade, textiles, health and pharmaceuticals.
The MoS also met Sommerfeld, during which the two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the diplomatic training institutions of India and Ecuador.
Margherita and Sommerfeld also jointly inaugurated the resident Embassy of India in Quito, underscoring India’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Ecuador.
In December, Margherita met Ecuador’s Ambassador to India, Fernando Bucheli Vargas, in New Delhi and discussed ways to strengthen ties and work together in areas of common interest.
India and Ecuador established diplomatic ties in 1969. The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding for holding Foreign Office Consultations in 2000. According to the MEA, five rounds of consultations have so far been held between the two sides — in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2023.
-IANS
