President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca received Vice President of the Republic of India Venkaiah Naidu at San Anton Palace. Vice President Naidu is currently in Malta on an official visit.
President Coleiro Preca said that this historical visit has given both countries the opportunity to reaffirm the friendship that exits between the Maltese and the Indians, adding that the recent appointment of a resident High Commissioner for Malta is adding further impetus to the strong bilateral links between both countries.
The President said that an Indian diaspora has been present in the Maltese islands since the late 1940s, and that the Indian community has gained the respect of the Maltese thanks to its peaceful integration, both in the economic and the social spheres of our islands.
“The Indian community in Malta is growing once again, with many Indian workers contributing to various socio-economic sectors, including healthcare and ICT. The closeness between our two peoples has also continued to grow, thanks to the adoption of Indian children by Maltese families”, President Coleiro Preca stated.
Addressing the press following a tête-à-tête, and a meeting with the respective Maltese and Indian delegations, President Coleiro Preca said that the meetings have provided another platform for constructive and insightful discussions, during which various sectors of mutual interest were discussed, including: trade, training and education, maritime ccoperation, ICT, tourism, and the film industry amongst others.
The President also commended the Indian government for taking proactive action to implement effective socio-economic reforms, also in relation to civil rights for women and minority communities.
“There is a sense of shared commitment to explore ample opportunities which the private sectors of our countries can benefit from”
Expressing her confidence that this evening’s business forum “will further enhance tangible ways of bringing our peoples together through trade and business”, and in view of the fact that Malta has already experienced the benefits of Indian investment in the pharmaceutical industry and ICT, the President said that Malta is now looking forward to further strategies of expansion.
“For this reason, I recommended to Vice-President Naidu the establishment of a joint commission in the area of trade to focus on strategies for developing the best interests of our respective business communities”, President Coleiro Preca stated.
The President also extended her congratulations for the launching the International Solar Alliance, which is creating a powerful context for countries with solar energy capacities to maximise this valuable resource, and to meet the targets established by the United Nations’ Agenda 2030. She said that Malta is looking forward to further collaboration in this sector, and to joining this alliance.
The President also spoke of the enthuasism being shown by India and Malta to continue to find opportunities to form new collaborations and partnerships between our authorities, our respective business communities, cultural sectors and civil society—partnerships which are being reflected today by the signing of four memoranda of understanding.
“I believe that strengthening our socio-economic ties is not only a pathway to shared prosperity, but also a means of continuing to build and develop sustainable friendships between our people”
The President said such friendship is reflected by the ongoing celebration of Diwali by the Indian community in Malta, which has now developed into a special Mediterranean event by the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation and the Vittoriosa Local Council to highlight the importance of multicultural appreciation and inclusion.
“In these, and in so many other contexts, Malta’s geo-strategic position in the Euro-Mediterranean region and India’s geo-strategic position in the East Asian region, make us unique collaborators”, President Coleiro Preca stated, whilst adding that the collaboration goes beyond bilateral relations, and is felt in multilateral fora, such as the work within the Commonwealth of Nations, and also the development of stronger EU-India relations, with the President saying that Malta looks forward to the conclusion of an effective EU-India free trade agreement.
“I augur that we shall continue to enhance prosperity across our regions and within our nations to ensure peace and security for the benefit of all the peoples of Malta and India”, the President concluded.