New Delhi [India], November 10 (ANI): Reaffirming its commitment to the Global South, India has dispatched a consignment of around 2.7 tonnes of life-saving vaccines to Venezuela, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote in a post on X, “Supporting global health. As part of India’s commitment towards the Global South countries, a consignment of approximately 2.7 tonnes of life-saving vaccines has been despatched for the people of Venezuela.”
The humanitarian assistance is part of India’s ongoing efforts to support developing nations through health partnerships and South-South cooperation. The vaccines will help strengthen Venezuela’s public health system and benefit thousands of people in need.
India and Venezuela have shared warm and friendly ties for over six decades. The two countries celebrated the 64th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023. Resident embassies in Caracas and New Delhi have been operational for over four decades, reflecting the depth of the bilateral relationship.
According to the MEA, “India and Venezuela have always enjoyed cordial relations and share similar views on major international, political, and economic issues. In addition to promoting bilateral ties, both nations cooperate in multilateral forums.”
Venezuela has emerged as one of India’s key oil suppliers, while India exports pharmaceutical products, machinery, electrical equipment, and textiles to the South American nation.
In February, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on digital cooperation to share successful population-scale digital solutions for governance and public service delivery.
As per the MEA, India’s main exports to Venezuela include mineral fuels and oils, pharmaceutical products, cotton, machinery, electrical equipment, clothing accessories, and chemical products. Meanwhile, India’s imports from Venezuela comprise mineral fuels and oils, iron and steel, aluminium, edible vegetables, copper, zinc, wood, electrical machinery, plastics, and organic chemicals.
There are currently around 50 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and 30 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) living in Venezuela. (ANI)
