New Delhi [India], November 26 (ANI): India and Venezuela on Wednesday held the 5th India–Venezuela Foreign Office Consultations, during which both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in key areas including trade, health and pharmaceuticals, digital technology, agriculture, development partnership, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration in multilateral forums of mutual interest. The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments and agreed to coordinate closely in multilateral fora to advance the India–Venezuela partnership.
The MEA noted that the next round of Foreign Office Consultations will be held in Caracas at a mutually convenient date.
The meeting was co-chaired by P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Tatiana Josefina Pugh Moreno, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
India and Venezuela share warm and cordial relations, with both countries maintaining similar views on major international, political, and economic issues. They continue to engage actively in multilateral forums to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. The two nations marked the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2024, with resident embassies present in Caracas and New Delhi for more than four decades.
The consultations took place weeks after Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met the Venezuelan Minister of Ecological Mining Development on the sidelines of the 30th CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on November 15. During the meeting, the Venezuelan side expressed interest in expanding economic engagement with India beyond the oil sector, including cooperation on critical minerals and attracting Indian investment, according to a statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Minister Goyal emphasized the need to reactivate the India–Venezuela Joint Committee Mechanism, which last met a decade ago. He noted that ONGC’s ongoing operations in Venezuela present opportunities for deeper collaboration in mining and exploration.
He suggested that Venezuela consider accepting the Indian Pharmacopoeia to facilitate pharmaceutical trade and highlighted opportunities to boost cooperation in the automobile sector. He added that India would engage with businesses exploring investment prospects in Venezuela. (ANI)
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