admin
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
INDIAN Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Shri Muraleedharan’s visit to Zimbabwe was aimed at consolidating the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and setting out a road map for future engagements.
The visit was the first high-level engagement between Zimbabwe and India since November 2018 when Minister Muraleedharan came to Zimbabwe as part of a delegation led by Indian Vice President Shri Venkaih Naidu.
During the recent visit, which began on Monday and ended on Tuesday, Minister Muraleedharan conveyed a message of goodwill and friendship from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa thanked India for the friendly gesture and expressed his desire to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
In a statement, the Indian Embassy in Harare said Minister Muraleedharan also met the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, and handed over a sewing machine out of a consignment of 950 sewing machines being given to the Angel of Hope Foundation run under the patronage of the First Lady.
The Embassy said Minister Muraleedharan also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Frederick Shava. The two ministers reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including co-operation in the energy sector for which the Government of India has extended three lines of credit worth US$468.1 million.
“Minister Muraleedharan attended a community reception hosted in his honour where he addressed and interacted with members of the Indian community.
“Zimbabwe has a vibrant Indian community comprising of about 8 500 persons of Indian origin and Indian nationals. He also paid floral tributes at the Bust of Gandhiji installed at the Hindu Society premises.
“He handed over a consignment of anti-TB medicines gifted by India worth around US$100 000 to Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr John Mangwiro.
“Minister Muraleedharan along with Dr Amon Murwira, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development of Zimbabwe, inaugurated new CNC machines gifted by India and installed at the Indo-Zim Technology Centre at the Harare Institute of Technology,” said the Embassy.
Online Reporter