External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar, recently visited the Dominican Republic from April 27th to 29th to hold discussions on matters of international importance with the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Alvarez. The two leaders renewed their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship of the countries, celebrate their shared democratic values, and emphasize the importance of multilateralism.
The relationship between India and Dominican Republic began in 1999 and its decision to elevate the relationship to the next step have strengthened the ties between the two nation with establishing the diplomatic mission in Santo Domingo. The ministers discussed the importance of UN Security Council reforms to reflect contemporary realities, their willingness to agree on common positions in international forums, their cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need for global efforts to combat terrorism.
The two Ministers signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) to bring the private sectors of their respective countries closer. Furthermore, they signed Protocol on Joint Economic and Trade Cooperation (JETCO), Memorandum of Understanding between the Central Drug Control Organization of India (CDSCO) and the General Directorate of Medicines, Food, and Health Products of the Dominican Republic (DIGEMAPS) and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Ministry of AYUSH, Republic of India and Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena (UNPHU). In addition, nine other agreements were signed which pertain to different social subject matters.
The CII is one of the largest and most influential associations of industries and the Private sector in India. It plays a crucial role in policy-based initiatives in India through partnering closely with the Government and lobbying for changes in industrial laws and incentives for industrial sectors. It assists industries in areas such as business policy, environment and climate change issues, market access, among other such crucial topics. The MOU signed between the CII and CONEP will allow members of the private sector in both countries to access each other’s knowledge and expertise as well as are entering into collaborations and joint ventures to further the respective interests of their members.
The person mentioned in the article is S Jaishankar, the current External Affairs Minister of India whose tenure began on 31st May 2019. He is a veteran diplomat and has held several important positions in the MEA, Indian diplomatic missions abroad, and in the Prime Minister’s Office. A proficient administrator, he has served as India’s Ambassador to China, United States and Czech Republic, among other countries, and has extensively contributed to the formulation of India’s foreign and security policy. A firm believer in the principles of multilateralism, he strongly advocates for global efforts to counter terrorism and climate change. His official visit to the Dominican Republic was instrumental in further strengthening the political ties between the two nations.
