Diplomacy

The Bonn-based UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) said on Wednesday that 197 parties to the pact are expected at the conference from October 7 to 18.

Indian and South African flags adorned the streets of New Delhi, with Ramaphosa accompanied by First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe and a high-level delegation including nine ministers, senior officials, a 50-member business delegation and media.

Morocco, Africa’s second biggest economy, has emerged as a key pillar in India’s Africa strategy and Delhi had played a key role in Morocco’s re-entry into African Union in 2017.

The Nikkei Asian Review, quoting its sources in New Delhi and Beijing, said that the visit could take place in February at the earliest or March after the annual session in Beijing of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s Parliament.

From an Afghan perspective, India’s soft power is effective in Afghanistan and the Indian government doesn’t need to have direct military involvement in the country.

SEZ Duqm Port project in Oman will serve as an Indian gateway to reach the Middle East including Africa.”It is an effort to explore and multiply the business and economic trade for mutual benefits”, said the government officials.

In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said, both Prime Ministers reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, and the talks focussed on the initiatives to further strengthen the ties.

Among the countries participating in the Unispace Nanosatellite Assembly and Training by ISRO (UNNATI) program, the first batch will bring in 30 delegates from 17 countries