Santa Cruz: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday praised the Indian community for their hard work and assimilating themselves with the local community of Bolivia peacefully.
"I understand that the Indian community in Bolivia is small. Yet, you have made a mark for yourself here, through hard work, dedication, and enterprise. You represent India's diverse cultural and spiritual heritage in this equally diverse land. And you have done it with pride and respect, eliciting affection and admiration from your hosts," President Kovind said in his address to the Indian community.
"We value the role our diaspora is playing in the development of our nation. We want you to carry our message of friendship and do more to enhance business between India and Bolivia."
"With your local knowledge on both sides and your entrepreneurial skills, you are best placed to make new business openings, be it in mining, IT, solar energy, automobile, agriculture, and Pharmaceutical sectors. As we strengthen our ties with Bolivia, we are very keen that our economic relations pick up steam," he said.
"Some of you would have met with the Indian business delegation accompanying me on the visit. We need your support to bring more Indian companies to invest and create new opportunities and jobs in Bolivia," the President said.
Kovind invited the Indian community to visit the "New India, an India full of hope and prosperity, by 2022, when we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our Independence.
"This is, indeed, a historic occasion for India-Bolivia relations and what better way to celebrate it than with those special people, our very own Indian community members and Friends of India, who have, over the years, contributed to the progress and development of these friendly ties," the President said.
"Yesterday, I had an excellent meeting with President Morales. We signed several key MoUs to further guide and propel our relations," he added.
Earlier on Friday (local time), India and Bolivia signed eight Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in diverse sectors, including culture, diplomatic visa, diplomatic academies, mining, space, traditional medicine, Bi-Oceanic Railway project, and International Solar Alliance (ISA).
President Kovind further noted that India is the first major economy that is seeking to make a leap for industrialisation while combating climate change and reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. India has set a target of 175 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2022, of which 100 gigawatts will comprise solar energy.
On the same day, President Kovind addressed India-- Bolivia Business Forum along with his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales organised by groups of Bolivian Chambers of Industries, Confederation of Indian Industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Around 30 Indian companies from gold, mining, infra, IT, automobile energy participated.
In the wake of growing threats and acts of terrorism across the world, India and Bolivia have called for early finalisation of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
President Kovind is currently in Bolivia on the second leg of his three-nation tour to Croatia, Bolivia, and Chile from March 25 to April 4. He will be visiting Chile on March 30 (local time), marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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