Anand Sharma to visit Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador

New Delhi, Jun 15 (UNI) Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma will visit Guatemala, Colombia and Ecuador from June 18-22 to strengthen trade and other relations.

Mr Sharma will be in Guatemala on June 18-19 when he will call on President Oscar Berger, besides having a meeting with Foreign Minister Gert Rosenthal.

Guatemala is the largest country in the Central American region.

Guatemala is planning to open its Embassy in New Delhi soon. The Government of India is also considering opening of a Mission in Guatemala.

India's exports to Guatemala in 2006 were 73 million dollars and there is scope for significant increase in the years to come.

Guatemala has expressed support to the G-4 initiative for expansion of permanent membership of the UNSC. Besides bilateral cooperation, the MOS will discuss with the Guatemalan leadership strengthening of relations between India and the Central American regional eight-nation group known as SICA (Central American Integration System). India has signed a MOU for dialogue and cooperation with this regional group.

The Minister will be in Colombia on June 20-21 when he will call on President Alvarao Uribe and will have discussions with Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo and other Cabinet Ministers.

Colombia is the third largest destination for India's exports to Latin America. Exports in 2006 were 346 million dollars and imports 63 million dollars. ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) has acquired a producing oil field for 425 million dollars. Reliance has also got an offshore oil block for exploration. There are 70 Colombian pilots and engineers working with Air Deccan and other airlines in India.

In Ecuador, where Mr Sharma will be on June 22, he will call on President Rafael Correa. The MOS will have meetings with Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa as well as with other Ministers including the Minister of Energy.

Ecuador is rich in petroleum resources and is an important oil exporter. India has been importing small quantities of crude oil.

OVL is interested in acquiring oil blocks and has already signed a MOU with Petroecuador.

Ecuador has recently reopened its Embassy in New Delhi and is keen to establish economic and technical partnership with India.

India is providing ITEC assistance and training to Ecuadorian nationals. The trade between Indian and Ecuador was 100 million dollars in 2006. The Minister will sign a MOU for exemption of visa for diplomatic and official passport holders of the two countries.

He will give a talk on India's foreign policy and South-South cooperation at a think-tank meeting in Quito.

UNI