Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion of Malta, H.E. Mr. Carmelo Abela, is visiting India from 5-8 March 2018. He is accompanied by senior officials of his Ministry and a large business delegation. The visit of Minister Abela takes place as part of the regular exchange between the two countries. During the visit, Minister Abela had a meeting with External Affairs Minister, Smt Sushma Swaraj, in New Delhi on 6 March.
India and Malta share a rich common heritage in the context of Commonwealth. Relations between the two countries have strengthened considerably in recent years with India reopening its resident Mission in Malta last year. India’s economic ties with Malta have grown stronger with annual bilateral trade reaching around USD 350 million last financial year. The size of Indian community in Malta has also gone up to about 400. A new beginning has been made in recent years on the culture front, with an Indian film being shot in Malta and courses on Sanskrit grammar being held at University of Malta.
Minister Abela and EAM Sushma Swaraj held discussions on various aspects of bilateral ties as well as important regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. The discussions between the two Ministers focused on building closer cooperation in the areas of trade & investment, trade fairs, financial services, information technology and tourism.
During the visit, Minister Abela participated in the India Europe 29 Business Forum (IE29BF) in New Delhi on 5 March. Ministry of External Affairs has been organizing IE29BF for past few years for promoting India’s economic ties with Central European countries. This year’s IE29BF is the fourth edition of the event.
In New Delhi, Minister Abela called on Hon’ble Vice President of India on 5 March.
Minister Abela also had a meeting with Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhu, in New Delhi on 5 March.
Minister Abela is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on 6 March. In Mumbai, he is likely to have a meeting with the Minister of Industry & Mining of Maharashtra and also interact with the Indian businesspersons of Confederation of Indian Industries and All India Association of Industries.
