President meets Indian officials as Guyana and India seek closer ties
Written by Gina Webmasters. Published in News, Georgetown, GINA, March 14, 2015, Source - GINA
President Donald Ramotar recently met with the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of India, Riva Ganguly and Under Secretary Animes Choudhury, at the Presidential Complex.
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Joint Secretary,(2nd from left) Ministry of External Affairs of India, Ms Riva Ganguly and Under Secretary Animes Choudhury, (left) in meeting with President Donald Ramotar. Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall is also in photo.
The visit saw the president and high-level delegation discussing ongoing cooperation and business relations and investments in the sectors of engineering, and technology. The President was joined by Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon.
Funding for developmental projects such as those undertaken by the Indian Exim Bank including the Specialty Hospital, road projects and the Information Technology (IT)nsector, were discussed.
The meeting is a follow-up to President Ramotar’s state visit to India in January of this year. That visit saw the president, accompanied by several government officials and business leaders, meeting with that country’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and several of the country’s top business leaders. Discussions during that trip focused on building closer ties and enhancing business, and developmental opportunities between the two nations.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon makes a point during the meeting with the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of India, Ms Riva Ganguly and Under Secretary Animes Choudhury, and President Donald Ramotar. Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall is also in photo
Following the meetings, it was announced that India would grant a line of credit of US$50Million for the East Bank Demerara Road expansion, as well US$8Million to assist in the acquisition of an ocean ferry vessel.
The Indian Government will also work with the Guyana Government in a pilot project on renewable energy using a rice husk gassifier.
Further, the Indian Government had taken the decision that Guyana would be the first country in which they would establish an IT Centre, and that this would be inaugurated very soon.