SOLOMON Islands High Commissioner to India, Anthony Makabo has expressed the commitment of the new Solomon Islands overseas diplomatic mission to fulfill ongoing bilateral programs under the Solomon Islands-India bilateral relationship and to take to greater heights this bilateral partnership.
High Commissioner Makabo, who is the first Solomon Islands envoy to India, expressed the mission’s commitment to ensure the accomplishment of the ongoing Solomon Islands-India bilateral programs in a meeting with senior officials of India’s Ministry od External Affairs on Tuesday.
High Commissioner Makabo’s first meeting was with the Joint Secretary of Oceania Territorial Division, Ms Paramita Tripathi, during which he took time to convey on behalf of the Government and people of Solomon Islands, sincere appreciation to the Government and people of India for the numerous support and financial assistance they provided to Solomon Islands over the years.
He highlighted that now that the Solomon Islands High Commission in Delhi is fully operational, the mission is committed to fulfill the on-going bilateral programs between the two esteemed Governments and its peoples and more so to further advance this cordial bilateral relation to greater heights.
High Commissioner Makabo also took time to personally thank the Oceania Territorial Division for its unremitting support towards the Solomon Islands High Commission in New Delhi during its establishment phase and also commended the Government of India for the financial support it offered towards the newly established diplomatic mission.
He also acknowledged the Government of India for its unwavering support towards health and human resource development of Solomon Islands.
High Commissioner Makabo said these assistances are a testament of goodwill and friendship that existed since the formalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries and are gestures that will forever be cherished by the Government and people of Solomon Islands.
He noted with appreciation that currently the Government of India is in the process of finalizing arrangements for the signing of few MOUs in the health and medical sector.
The High Commissioner said this will profoundly create a pathway for enhanced cooperation and access to the Indian Pharmacopoeia and also provide a prospect for technical cooperation in areas of mutual benefit within the health and medical sector.
He welcomed an update that Solomon Islands submissions aligned to the pledges and announcements made during the recent Forum of India Pacific Island Countries (FIPIC) in Port Moresby, are being positively considered by the Government of India.
High Commissioner Makabo said going forward, the Solomon Islands High Commission in New Delhi will continue to collaborate and work closely with responsible authorities of the Government of India to oversee the full implementation of these on-going bilateral commitments and will also seek further avenues to strengthen the existing friendly relations between India and Solomon Islands and both its peoples.
High Commissioner Makabo is scheduled to present his credentials to the President of the Republic of India soon.
(MFAET/SOLSTAR)
