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Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PM Modi meets Presidents of Bolivia, Uruguay; discusses ways to bolster co-op in key areas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora and discussed ways to bolster cooperation in areas such as critical minerals , trade and investment , healthcare and space, among others. In a social media post, Modi said he had a "fruitful meeting" with President Catacora on the sidelines of the BRICS summit . He described Bolivia as a valued partner in Latin America and said that bilateral ties between the two countries have become much stronger in recent years. "We talked about the need for improving and diversifying trade linkages on a priority basis. We discussed how we can collaborate in sectors such as digital technology, critical minerals, healthcare, space and more," Modi said. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the two leaders discussed cooperation in critical minerals, trade and commerce, digital public infrastructure & UPI, health and pharmaceuticals, traditional medicine, small & medium Industries, training, and capacity building. Live Events Both leaders "recognised the potential for enhanced collaboration in the critical minerals sector and developing sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships in the field," it said. They reviewed bilateral cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the ongoing development cooperation between the two countries, including through Quick Impact Projects and capacity-building initiatives under the ITEC scholarship programmes, it added. PM Modi conveyed his best wishes to the people and Government of Bolivia on the occasion of the country's bicentennial celebration, marking 200 years of independence on August 6, 2025. He also expressed solidarity with the people of Bolivia in the wake of the severe flooding that occurred in March-April 2025 in Laz Paz and several other parts of the country. He congratulated Bolivia for joining the International Solar Alliance. Separately, Prime Minister Modi met President Yamandu Orsi of Uruguay on the sidelines of the BRICS summit and discussed ways to boost cooperation in areas such as trade, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, technology and defence. "Close ties between our nations are important for the Global South. India is committed to doing everything possible to further deepen relations with Uruguay," Modi said. The two leaders reviewed cooperation in the areas of digital collaboration, ICT, digital public infrastructure & UPI, defence, railways, health and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy, culture and people-to-people linkages, the MEA said in a statement. A key area of discussion was strengthening bilateral trade and investment. "Both sides expressed interest in the expansion of the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement, aiming to unlock greater economic potential and trade complementarities," it said. Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to President Orsi for the strong condemnation of the recent barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam and appreciated Uruguay's solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the MEA said. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to develop a forward-looking bilateral partnership. PM Modi also said that the rising popularity of Yoga in Uruguay is wonderful for boosting people-to-people ties.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India and Trinidad & Tobago sign six pacts
New Delhi: India and Trinidad and Tobago have signed six agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, development projects, sports, education, cultural exchange programmes and diplomatic training. The pacts were signed in Port of Spain on Friday following delegation-level talks between Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar , and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi , who was on an official visit to the Caribbean nation. The 'Agreement on Indian Pharmacopoeia ' aims to provide improved access to Indian pharmaceutical products in the Trinidad and Tobago market, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo To strengthen the development corporation partnership between the two countries, an agreement was signed for an Indian grant to implement ' Quick Impact Projects '. In a bid to enhance cultural ties, Modi announced the celebration of 'Geeta Mahotsav' at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation in Port of Spain, which will coincide with the Geeta Mahotsav celebrations in India. Live Events
United News of India
20-06-2025
- Business
- United News of India
India, Central American Integration System hold virtual dialogue, identify areas of cooperation
New Delhi, June 19 (UNI) India and the Central American Integration System (SICA) held a Virtual Dialogue on June 18, during which they identified areas of cooperation including Food and Nutritional security, Health, Connectivity, Agriculture and Digital Transformation. The SICA representatives thanked India for its support in times of need such as the COVID Pandemic and other natural disasters affecting the region. The Indian side was led by Additional Secretary, Rajesh Vaishnaw. SICA was represented by the Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, Alejandro Solano, Director of International Cooperation of the SICA Secretariat, Carmen Marroquin, and Senior Officials and Representatives of the SICA Member countries. The current Pro-Tempore Presidency of SICA lies with Costa Rica and will be handed over to Panama later this year. Additional Secretary, in his intervention, underlined that the India SICA relationship is built on a strong foundation of mutual respect, shared values of democracy and sustainable development, and strong commitment to South-South cooperation. India has actively supported a number of initiatives in this region through its development cooperation programmes, including the ITEC capacity-building platform, Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), and the dedicated SME grant programme. Additional Secretary highlighted India's success in Digital Transformation, Affordable Healthcare and Medicines, Disaster Resilience and Renewable Energy stating that India is willing to cooperate further in these areas with the SICA member countries for shared prosperity and sustainable development, a statement said. The representatives from SICA Secretariat and the SICA Member countries appreciated India's proactive role in fostering global South-South cooperation. They mentioned that the India SICA cooperation will deepen further through sustained political dialogue and regional cooperation initiatives. Main areas of cooperation were identified as Food and Nutritional security, Health, Connectivity, Agriculture, Digital Transformation, Energy, Trade and Investment. The representatives from SICA thanked India for its support in times of need such as the COVID Pandemic and other natural disasters affecting the region. The Central American Integration System (SICA) is the institutional framework of Regional Integration in Central America, created by the States of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Subsequently, Belize joined afterwards as a full member; in 2013, The Dominican Republic did likewise. SICA's General Secretariat headquarters are located in the Republic of El Salvador. UNI RN
Zawya
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
New facility aims at supporting prisoners to complete their sentences with dignity
Poor sanitation and overcrowded facilities that leave little to no privacy for inmates at the Magwi Prison have been long overdue for replacement. This week, thanks to joint efforts by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and implementing partner, the Community Initiative for Development Association (CIDA), construction has begun on a new facility in this conflict-prone county in Eastern Equatoria state. 'It is our hope that the new cells for women, men and juvenile offenders, as well as the office spaces, will provide a protective environment for prison officers and inmates, in which dignity and human rights are respected,' said Anthony Nwapa, a Human Rights Officer at the UN Peacekeeping mission's UNMISS Torit Field Office. Once completed, the new prison is expected to reduce overcrowding, ensure human rights standards are adhered to, and minimize attempts to escape incarceration. 'Prisons should provide detainees with a second chance at life through rehabilitation programmes. To do this, inmates must be able to serve out their sentences with dignity so that they can hope to be fully reintegrated into society,' explained Abdalla Hassen Adidi, Director General, state Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies. 'This project has started precisely when we need it the most, with criminality rising in our neighbourhoods,' added Aldo Ojara Akwilino, Magwi's paramount chief. Construction is set to finish in around five months, after which, Mr Nwapa says, it will be handed over to the local authorities. 'The new prison facility is part of UNMISS' Quick Impact Projects programme, where we fund small-scale projects that have a big impact in terms of addressing urgent public needs. Once we hand it over to authorities, it's up to them and community members to ensure that the facility remains in good condition and serves its purpose.' After years of civil war, such projects are crucial for lasting peace in South Sudan. 'The prison construction in Magwi aims to address gaps in the justice system such as human rights violations, weak law enforcement and slow court proceedings, all of which contribute to overcrowded prisons and police cells. Any initiative that strengthens the rule of law while keeping in mind the rights of prisoners is critical for communities to look forward to a better future,' said Grace John Kenyi, Executive Director, CIDA. 'That's why we partner with UNMISS to implement and deliver such projects.'
Zawya
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Newly deployed African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) officers train on Civil-Military relations to strengthen community relations
Sixteen newly deployed military officers, serving with the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), have completed an intense five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) course on Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) to strengthen community relations in their areas of operation. The training, jointly organised by the AUSSOM Force Headquarters CIMIC Cell and the United Kingdom-Mission Support Team (UK-MST), equipped the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) CIMIC officers with the expertise needed to effectively execute frontline CIMIC activities, supporting the mission's mandate as outlined by the African Union and the United Nations Security Council. AUSSOM Deputy Force Commander in charge of Support and Logistics, Major General Peter Muteti, stressed the importance of CIMIC in peace support operations and urged the officers to be diligent in working to build trust and foster positive relations with the local population. 'CIMIC includes everything we do to ensure good relations with civilians in our areas of operations and this is important so that we are able to collaborate with local communities and also get their support. I believe you have achieved your learning objectives and are leaving with the knowledge and skills to operationalise what we have learned,' he said on Thursday. Maj. Gen. Muteti emphasised the importance of the training timeline, stressing the critical need for sustainable capacity building as the mission transitions to AUSSOM. The Officer in Charge of the British Military's Operation TANGHAM, Lt. Col. Chris Charnock, underscored the importance of CIMIC officers in building trust and rapport with local communities. 'Your role as CIMIC officers is critical in challenging your teams and commanders to consider what comes next. Once we have secured an area, we need to think about how to assist the people and bring about peace,' said Lt. Col. Charnock. The participants covered various topics, including the African Union processes required to initiate Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), stabilisation and planning, CIMIC reporting, Awareness of non-military agencies, and the interoperability protocols between Somali National Army (SNA) and AUSSOM CIMIC officers. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
