India And Rwanda Strengthen Ties In Second Foreign Office Talks

India and Rwanda held their second Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on December 5, 2024, in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Mayank Singh, Joint Secretary (East & Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs, and the Rwandan delegation by Virgile Rwanyagatare, Director General (Asia, Pacific and Middle East Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

This meeting offered both nations a platform to review progress since their first FOC in Kigali in 2018 and to explore new avenues for partnership.

Comprehensive Review of Bilateral Ties

Discussions encompassed a wide range of areas, including:

• Political and Trade Relations: Review of trade and investment ties and exploration of new opportunities to enhance economic collaboration.
• Defense and Energy: Strengthening defense cooperation and advancing energy partnerships.
• Agriculture and Health: Initiatives to promote food security and improve healthcare collaboration.
• Education and Capacity Building: Programs for human resource development and technical capacity building.

Emerging Areas of Cooperation

Both nations identified new sectors for collaboration, including:

• Space and Critical Technologies: Exploring partnerships in space exploration and emerging technologies.
• Cybersecurity: Strengthening cyber defenses and addressing digital threats.
• Mining and Disaster Response: Cooperation in resource management and humanitarian assistance.

Cultural and People-to-People Connections

India and Rwanda emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges and youth engagement to strengthen ties at the grassroots level. They discussed fostering people-to-people contacts through educational initiatives and cultural programs.

Commitment to Strategic Partnership

India reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Rwanda on all aspects of their strategic partnership. Both sides also discussed regional and multilateral issues, including collaboration at the United Nations and other international forums.