Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met President Alassane Ouattara and government officials in Abidjan. Talks covered defence, trade, infrastructure, agriculture and health care.
Jaishankar arrived on October 7 from Ghana as part of a three-country African tour that also includes Ethiopia. Côte d’Ivoire’s foreign ministry confirmed that his official visit runs from October 7 to 8 and includes meetings in Abidjan.
At his meeting with President Alassane Ouattara, Jaishankar conveyed greetings from Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described the bilateral partnership as grounded in mutual respect and a shared commitment to development and prosperity.
Vice Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tene Birahima Ouattara discussed expanding defence ties with Jaishankar. The Indian minister said the talks covered training, capacity building, counterterrorism and closer institutional exchanges.
Jaishankar also met Niale Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s minister of state for foreign affairs and international cooperation. Their agenda included trade and investment, infrastructure, agriculture and health care. The two sides also discussed cooperation in multilateral forums.
During the visit, the minister met alumni of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, which began in 1964, as well as members of the Indian community. He said India’s development work in Africa should respond to partner countries’ priorities. The tour also includes Ghana and Ethiopia.