New Delhi, May 15 2025 (ANI): At the inauguration of the embassy of Honduras, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "Minister, let me first acknowledge the statement of solidarity that we heard from your country on the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We particularly value your public commitment to opposition to terrorism in all its forms and the fact that it is something which is completely unacceptable to any form of civilized world. We very much appreciate your support and solidarity as we battle terrorism today in our region..."
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00:00It is a great privilege to join you all today for the official inauguration of the Embassy of the Republic of Honduras in New Delhi.
00:11This occasion marks a significant milestone and opens up a promising new chapter in the warm and long-standing relationship between our two countries.
00:23Thank you, Minister.
00:53It is very unacceptable to any form of civilized world.
01:00We very much appreciate your support and solidarity as we battle terrorism today in our region.
01:09Where the opening of this embassy is concerned, I regard it as more than a ceremonial event.
01:18It is a testament to the shared vision and mutual commitment of our two nations to deepen our bilateral ties, to fortify our institutional linkages, and to expand the frontiers of our cooperation.
01:34It reflects our common aspiration to forge partnerships, not just with Honduras, but with the larger region, relationships that transcend geography and embody the values of mutual respect, solidarity, and shared progress.
01:53Excellencies, dear friends, since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Honduras on the 28th of September 1994, our relationship has grown steadily across multiple dimensions.
02:12Our engagements have been guided by a spirit of friendship and a strong belief that international cooperation serves the broader interests of humanity.
02:27In the last three decades, our economic engagements have grown steadily.
02:33They have been underpinned by trade, by investment, by technical cooperation.
02:39Bilateral trade is today a little in excess of $300 million, $310 to be exact.
02:46And we have a diversified basket, which includes pharmaceuticals, textiles, automobiles, and machinery, while we import coffee, wood, and leather from Honduras.
02:58Now, this commercial exchange highlights the considerable potential that exists in areas such as agribusiness, renewable energy, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing.
03:14In fact, minister, all the areas that we discussed today in our very productive talks earlier in the afternoon.
03:22We recognize the need today to strengthen our business-to-business linkages, to foster greater investment partnerships, and to explore complementarities while exchanging experiences.
03:36Where Indian companies are concerned, I do want to recognize that they have a particular interest in renewable energy and IT-enabled service sectors.
03:49We think that your country's strategic location, its favorable investment climate, and its demand for sustainable solutions make it an attractive destination.
04:01Recently, Hondutel, which is your national telecom operator, had signed a memorandum of understanding with one of our major telecom players, Reliance Jio, paving the way for the rollout of a 5G network in Honduras.
04:17This collaboration marks a significant step in digital connectivity partnership as well as in technology innovation.
04:25I'm very confident that the opening of the embassy of Honduras in New Delhi will go a long way to facilitate trade promotion, will encourage business people to use the embassy as a hub for matchmaking, that it will provide institutional support to undertake greater initiative activities and engagements.
04:47I also want to share on this occasion, the discussions that we've had today, and I think some of our earlier meetings as well.
04:58The fact that as part of Global South Cooperation, we have the possibility of exchanging developmental experiences.
05:07We're particularly focused, I think, on health, and also I want to mention that we are now engaged in installing an early warning system, which is developed by CDOT, which is aimed at strengthening Honduras' preparedness for disaster resilience.
05:29Our collaboration on the global stage has found many meaningful expressions, including in the United Nations.
05:39We very much value the consistent support that we receive from Honduras in various multilateral activities.
05:49I also want to mention the Indian diaspora in Honduras.
05:52It is small, but it is vibrant, and it contributes significantly to the local economy as well as serves as a living bridge of friendship.
06:04We are very encouraged today to see the enthusiasm for Indian culture in Honduras, widespread interest in yoga, in traditional Indian wellness practices.
06:15And, again, I'm sure that the establishment of an embassy here would serve to make that living bridge that much more effective.
06:25Let me again stress this broader engagement today that India has with Latin America and the Caribbean.
06:33I think it has seen considerable progress in the last few years.
06:38When I became minister six years ago, I promised many of you or your predecessors that it is certainly a region in which we would take much greater interest, invest much deeper energies, and have much more activity.
06:55To me, the opening of an embassy here is an affirmation that this effort that we have made is actually paying off, that the embassy, a resident embassy, is actually a commitment by Honduras to really realize the full potential of our ties.
07:18And there is so much that we can do here, do in terms of business, as I said, do in terms of education, capacity building.
07:28Our ITEC program has already been active for many years in Honduras, and we certainly hope that it is something which would grow both in its quality and in terms of the importance of its contribution.
07:45So, once again, let me, Minister, wish you and your team and your wife all the best on this important occasion.
07:59We really, really appreciate the opening of a resident mission.
08:04We see this as one more step in solidifying our relationship with the region.
08:12So, I'm sure many of our colleagues from Latin America would also join me in welcoming the opening of a resident mission.
08:21Once again, my warmest congratulations, and I hope that your presence here today and the opening of a resident mission will create the basis for much more intensive interactions between us in times to come.
08:37Thank you very much.