Establishment of Latvia-India Inter-governmental Committee to be discussed in political consultations

Political consultations between Latvian and Indian foreign ministries will be held on 5 May in New Delhi, where talks are expected on the development of bilateral relations, and in particular, on economic co-operation and the establishment of a Latvia-India Inter-governmental Committee. In addition, both sides will discuss collaboration in international organisations, current issues in regional and international security policy from the perspectives of the regions of both countries and the EU-India dialogue. In 2004 the EU defined India its strategic partner and currently is India's largest economic partner.     

From the Latvian side, the consultations will be led by Foreign Ministry State Secretary Normans Penke and from the Indian side by Secretary Nalin Surie. Previous consultations between the Latvian Foreign Ministry and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs took place in Riga in 2005. 

During the visit, the delegation is also scheduled to meet with representatives of the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the administration of the state of Maharashtra and to visit Mumbai Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal and to meet with its management. In the area of bilateral economic co-operation, Latvia is interested and sees potential in biotechnology, pharmacy, information technology, industry, energy, tourism, transport, and finance.     

A meeting with the administration of the National Museum of India is also expected, with the aim of talking about possible collaboration with the Latvian Foreign Art Museum as part of a Latvian-Indian culture exchange programme.

Since 26 September 2007 the non-resident Latvian Ambassador to India is Hardijs Baumanis, residing in Vilnius, Lithuania.

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