BISSAU: India-Guinea Bissau Bilateral Meeting

BISSAU: Shri Rahul Chhabra, Secretary
(Economic Relations) visited Guinea Bissau (GB) on 5-6 July 2021. He was accompanied
by Joint Secretary (C&WA), this was the first ever bilateral visit from our
side.

Shri Chhabra called on President Umaro Sissoco Embaló; Deputy Prime Minister
Soares Sambú, held delegation level discussions with Ms Udé Fati, Secretary of
State for international cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
interacted with prominent members of the Indian community.

Both sides undertook a comprehensive review of the entire gamut of bilateral,
regional, and international issues of mutual interest. Both sides collaborate
closely in multilateral and regional fora like IBSA, TEAM-9 (Techno-Economic
Approach for Africa-India Movement), IAFS (India-Africa Forum Summit), UN etc;
Both sides took stock of exchanges of bilateral visits, holding of Joint
Commission and FOC meetings, bilateral trade & investment, development
partnership, capacity building, people to people to linkages, pending MOUs
including ISA, eVBAB, and visa free travel for diplomatic and official passport
holders, opening of resident missions, regional and global issues.

Also
discussed was capacity building training in cashewnuts processing, Digital
India program, Co-Win platform and Covaxin to fight Covid-19, development of
ports, mining (bauxite, phosphates), agriculture and food processing in Guinea
Bissau. Both sides noted with appreciation their cooperation on COVID-19
related issues including supply of medicines and made in India vaccines under
COVAX initiative. GB appreciated for gifting 1000 mts of rice.

Bilateral relations between India and Guinea Bissau are warm and friendly and
are poised to grow in the times ahead. The present bilateral trade of US$ 135
million is below potential and there is considerable scope for higher growth.
India imports close to 90% of Guinea Bissau’s raw cashew nuts and is the
biggest export partner of Guinea Bissau. Both sides noted to expand trade
basket, organization of business delegations and road shows, both in-person,
and virtual platforms.

India has extended developmental assistance to GB worth over US$ 25 million
under lines of credit. India continues to extend capacity building support with
scholarships, skill development trainings under ITEC.

The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. Both sides agreed to
exchange bilateral visits at regular intervals.