LIBREVILLE: Virtual Meeting between Minister of State for External Affairs and the Foreign Minister of Gabon

LIBREVILLE: Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External
Affairs had a virtual meeting with Foreign Minister of Gabon H.E. Mr. Pacome
Moubelet Boubeya on December 23, 2020. During the meeting, the two leaders
discussed and reviewed the entire spectrum of the bilateral relationship,
including further strengthening cooperation.

MOS expressed condolences on the
untimely demise of the Ambassador of Gabon to India, H.E. Mr. Desire Koumba.

India & Gabon share friendly and
cordial relations. MOS expressed happiness over the regular visits from Gabon
to India at all levels and added that the meeting of H.E. the President of
Gabon with Prime Minister Modi in 2015 during IAFS-III and in March 2018 during
ISA founding conference and the Foreign Minister’s visit in 2017 & 2018 had
helped in strengthening relations between the two countries.

Both leaders undertook a detailed
review of bilateral ties including the Covid-19 pandemic and possibilities of
cooperation in the post-Covid scenario.

The two Ministers also discussed the
huge potential that exists in Gabon in sectors such as manganese, fertilizer,
railways, agriculture and timber. Gabon has huge amount of natural resources,
particularly, manganese, timber, crude oil and, it offers investment
opportunities for Indian companies. Bilateral trade has been progressing
steadily and it reached US $ 511 million in 2018-19. However, there is still
untapped potential and both countries needed to work together to address the
issue.

Both leaders also reviewed the
utilization of ITEC slots and finalizatiion of draft MOU for participating in
e-VBAB Project. The Gabon Foreign Minister has extended invitation to MOS to visit
Gabon and also raised the issue of opening of Resident Indian Mission in Gabon.
While referring to offer of Line of Credit from India, both leaders recognised
that the existing LOC facilities could be utilized by Gabon wisely,
particularly, in solar energy and construction of railway lines.

Both leaders also discussed
India-Gabon cooperation at international level and reaffirmed their commitment
to continue to support each others’ candidature at UN and other international
forums.