Special Briefing by MEA on President’s State Visit to North Macedonia

[00:00:48]Uh good evening friends. I welcome you to this special media briefing on the ongoing visit of honorable Rashtraati G to North Macedonia.

[00:00:59]And for that I have the pleasure to introduce you sitting on dis with me Sri uh CB George secretary west ministry of external affairs Dr. Manisha uh press secretary to honorable Rashravati GI Shri Arun Kumar Sahu Ambassador of India to Bulgaria and North Macedonia and Shrimati Alpuna Dubai Joint Secretary Southern Europe Ministry of Exterction Affairs. I would now request Secretary West to brief the media on the honorable Rastapati's visit to North Macedonia.

[00:01:36]Thank you Rajesh.

[00:01:38]My colleagues, uh, distinguished members of the media, good afternoon.

[00:01:46]I'll give you an overview of the visit of Honorable Dashadi G to North Macedonia.

[00:01:54]At the invitation of her excellency, the president of the Republic of North Macedonia, Honorable President of India is currently on a state visit to the Republic of North Macedonia.

[00:02:08]This visit marks a historic milestone in India North Macedonia relations as this is the first ever bilateral visit by an president of India to mar North Macedonia since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995.

[00:02:27]The visit reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening partnership with North Macedonia as well as reflects India's broader engagement with Europe.

[00:02:40]Last night, Honorable Dashi was received at the airport by his excellency the minister of foreign affairs of the republic of North Macedonia on her arrival.

[00:02:53]Today honorable Dastra was received by honorable president of North Macedonia who also extended a ceremonial state welcome at the presidential palace.

[00:03:10]They had bilateral meetings. Both presidents discussed all aspects of bilateral relations and underscored the need for identifying new areas of cooperation to further strengthen our bilateral ties. They identified areas such as digital technology, healthcare, pharma, automotive, agriculture and agre agroducts.

[00:03:35]new technologies including AI as priority areas for cooperation. Both sides also agreed to increase bilateral trade substantially in coming years. The president of North Macedonia expressed a keen interest on cooperation in the field of traditional health care practices including yoga.

[00:03:58]During the meeting, honorable Dashabra GI announced the doubling of IT training slots including offering specialized programs in artificial intelligence to North Macedonia. In addition, we honorable Dashabad Gi also offered to offered North Macedonia to in the forthcoming professional course of foreign diplomats at the Sushmaswaraj Institute of Foreign Service focusing again on artificial and cyber diplomacy.

[00:04:30]Uh I'm happy to report that both countries have renewed an MOU on cooperation in the field of health care for a further period of five years which aims to enhance cooperation through joint initiatives and technology development in health sector including in healthcare facilities.

[00:04:49]As you are aware, North Macedonia has supported India in its fight against terrorism and I recall that it had strongly condemned the Bahalam terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in India last year. Honorable Dash GI also met with the prime minister of North Macedonia who also hosted a lunch in honor of honorable Dastradi. They also discussed all issues of cooperation including uh cooperation in the new and renewable energy sector. [clears throat] She honorable president also met with president of the assembly of North Macedonia. She addressed the assembly of North Macedonia the session of the assembly. In her address, she emphasized the need for uh countries to work together as two democracies, fostering strong partnership by institutional linkages. She informed the assembly of me uh me members about the growing participation of women in Indian democracy including in our panchay raja system where onethird of the seats are reserved for women as well as the enactment of historic law for one-third reservation for women in the lower house of Indian parliament and state legislative assemblies together with the president of uh North Macedonia, Honorable Dashi GI jointly addressed the India North Macedonia business forum which has just concluded.

[00:06:24]The forum had participation of business representatives of leading companies of India and North Macedonia. Vulnerable GI was is uh accompanied by a large Indian delegation comprising of members from various sectors including IT and IT uh artificial intelligence uh circular economy, renewable energy, healthcare and life science, construction, leather, textile, food processing, engineering, defense and aerospace.

[00:06:58]The focus of the deliberation center business forum was enhancing cooperation in three T's trade, technology, tourism and of course talent which would contribute substantially to India's Amritkal journey towards becoming a developed country vigid bharat by 2047.

[00:07:18]During the business forum, the ASOC, which was also part of the business delegation, signed three MOUS for institutional arrangement with uh North Macedonian uh various uh chambers of commerce uh in this country.

[00:07:36]North Macedonia is strategically located and is important for several planned and existing uh energy and transport projects and the panuropean transport corridors between the Mediterranean and Central Europe. North Macedonia's most important transport access in the Ward Morava corridor which links the port facilities uh from Greece to central Europe via uh Serbia. As you are aware we have concluded the India EU free trade agreement earlier this year. North Macedonia is not a member of EU but it is a EU candidate country and is also developing a comprehensive partnership with the EU. EU is North Macedonia Macedonia's largest development partner and providing engaged in um technical support to advance reforms infrastructure and socioeconomic development. So the uh India EUFT would also help not only with the members of the uh EU but also countries which are uh part of Europe aspiring to be members of the EU. So this is an important uh visit which covers the entire aspect of business engagement and you are also aware that we have entered into an India EU towards 2030 a joint comprehensive strategic agenda uh during the last visit of the presidents of European Union to India which focuses on the on sustainability technology innovation security and defense and connectivity again these areas has gets covered in our engagement with North uh Macedonia. Uh honorable president of North Macedonia will host a official banquet for a state banquet for honorable Dashadi tonight uh which we will be proceeding shortly. Uh both sides also discussed uh the uh reform of the United Nations. As you are aware, North Macedonia supports uh both North Macedonia and India works together uh in the multilateral fora cooperate to each other and also uh they support India's uh permanent uh membership in a reformed UN security council. Uh it is uh North America has also uh expressed its intention to join the Indialed global initiatives such as international solar alliance, global biofuels alliance and coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure reflecting our shared commitment to sustainable development and climate action. The visit is continuing. Today as I said there will be the banquet state banquet and tomorrow there are multiple events planned including the uh joint unveiling of the statue of Mahabbust of Mahatma Gandhi uh which both the presidents would be unveiling.

[00:10:44]uh also a visit to the uh memorial and the museum of Mother Teresa. Uh both the presidents will be visiting and um as you know Mother Teresa was born uh in this uh city. Uh I would like to conclude by saying that the state visit of the ongoing state visit of honorable Dashtraadiji Gi reaffirms our shared commitment to building a forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnership that contributes to the prosperity of the people of our two countries and also of India EU India Europe partnership. Thank you. I'll be happy to take questions.

[00:11:24][snorts] >> Yeah. So floor is open for questions.

[00:11:29]Um we'll take one round of questions uh since it is already late in India. So you introduce yourself and then question.

[00:11:38]I'm Ashwini Shivas from PTI best stop India. So my question is what's the main objective of this visit and if you could outline key deliberation that took place specifically the one on film making that was mentioned by president Murmu in her press statement as well.

[00:11:57]Sir, I'm Adita Shvasta from DT News.

[00:12:00]What are the key areas of economic cooper cooperation during this visit?

[00:12:10]>> No more.

[00:12:17]>> Yeah.

[00:12:18]>> Macedonian radio. Macedonia is still not EU member as you mentioned and you have already signed the agreement for the free trade with EU. Are there going to be any obstacles on the road in the relations with Macedonia in this regard?

[00:12:37]>> Okay.

[00:12:54]Thank you. Thank you very much. I would u uh you know the first question is on the um yeah first question is on the objective of the visit and also uh enhancement of engagement with uh Europe. Uh as you are aware this is a historic visit. This is the first state visit by president of India to North Macedonia since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

[00:13:30]So it reflects the importance India attaches in our engagement with North Macedonia.

[00:13:41]uh as far as the objective of the visit is concerned as you are aware in the last few years there has been a complete transformation in India's engagement with multiple countries also with Europe we have deeper engagement one of the important signs of that is the large number of visits both political official and also business visits and engagement which is happening between India and Europe. It is not only with the U EU members but also other countries in Europe. So there is a complete transformation in that engagement which is reflective of the mutual trust and interest uh that both India and Europe have in each other and North Macedonia is an important country in Europe, a federal democratic country and we are seeing that there is a growing interest in Macedonia for doing business with India and similarly uh for in India for the business to do business with this country. We have just seen the huge um overwhelming response to the uh business forum which was held. uh several important uh companies have participated uh in the meetings and the meeting was addressed by honorable presidents of both India and North Macedonia and also I believe five ministers uh cabinet ministers addressed it showing the enthusiasm in this relationship. So business [clears throat] that is the first priority and I see a huge momentum for that. I would also like to touch upon the three Ts which I mentioned trade technology. So we we have heard both the presidents talking about doubling the trade you know realizing the full potential in that engagement in terms of trade and business. So uh again technology is the other aspect. Uh tourism also came up for the discussions. uh in fact there was a request for a direct connectivity again uh we will you know again we it is in our wish list we will see how we take it forward uh so that that that part I also touched upon the MOU on health which we have uh renewed for the next five years uh if you look at it you have heard in the speech of the honorable India is the pharmacy of the world uh India's party engagement with the rest of the world in the in the healthcare is hugely expanding. Um also in India there is a complete transformation happening. The Aayishman Bharat project which we have is yielding good results. So there is a momentum for healthcare cooperation as well. So this is uh I would put it as the main objectives of this visit which has been uh in the right track. as far as uh key areas of economic cooperation which you mentioned. If you look at the show me the booklet. Uh if you look at the booklet you will see that you know I mean several the companies which have come covers the entire spectrum of possible cooperation between two countries as I mentioned it includes the IT and IT. Uh the digital transformation again which happened in India in the last few years is hugely appreciated. AI you know we hosted the uh AI impact summit which had participation from 108 countries a humane approach to AI. So that is another area of cooperation uh and economic cooperation. Circular economy, renewable energy, um healthcare and life science, construction, leather, textile, food processing, engineering and aerospace you know some of the areas which are covered. I would uh recommend you go through this to understand more about that. [snorts] Sir your question on the India uh EU relations and uh is there any obstacles in deeper engagement? Of course there is no objection uh objections you know one India is expanding its engagement with the entire Europe India EU relationship and also uh beyond that with each of the countries bilateral engagement business engagement is growing and we have also noticed that uh Maceronia is a candidate country and making uh progress. it has a stabilization and um uh association agreement with uh uh EU which is which gives a preferential treatment. So uh I am confident that uh uh India EU FTA will also uh help India uh expired its engagement with not only with the EU member countries but also EU candidate countries and other countries. So we are seeing uh we are we are looking at it in that angle of deeper cooperation at every level. Uh these are the on the film making there was a question you know about yeah uh you know uh as you are aware the uh there were cases when Indian movies were shot here. Yes and uh that is something which is uh >> something new. Yeah, there was a there was a Tamil movie which was taken uh in fact that was u that came up for the discussions. Uh so that's what I also touched upon the tourism uh tourism part but honorable Dashbadi G has invited uh North Macedonian uh North Macedonia uh to participate in the waves uh which is planned in India. uh you know the uh we you know last year the waves was a great success and uh we look forward to uh participation for North Macedonia in that yeah very small >> it is very small >> see you know the presence of the large number of companies today and both the chambers I saw so and fiki there uh shows that there is a growing interest and particularly with the new FTA getting in place it is an opportunity for uh expanding the trade and business.

[00:20:10]So there is a momentum and you could see the confidence with which both the business and the government uh was speaking about the focus they would like to have on India and India's growth. Uh so thank you.

[00:20:25]Yeah, Ji from DD News. President Murmu said that North Macedonia has expressed intent on joining uh global initiatives led by India like CDRI, ISA and Global Alliance for Biouels. Where do we see that engagement? Uh and what how will it benefit North Macedonia particularly?

[00:20:46]>> See what are these programs? These are the three uh global initiatives that India has taken. International Solar Alliance, International Bofuel Alliance and also the CDRI each has a focus area and what we are looking at is with the partners countries with our member countries we are working uh towards developing technology and also technology transfer capacity building.

[00:21:12]So there is some best practices. There are certain technologies which can be shared and which would help uh you know there may be some technology which North Macedonia has which would help India which would help other member countries.

[00:21:25]Similarly there are certain technologies in some other uh member countries which would be which can be exchanged. Then capacity building is an important area in each of these uh initiatives which you have. The fact that a large number of countries are joining this partnership they uh each of these programs is indicative of the uh you know it's the so far it has been how successful it has been. So we see a momentum for more and more countries joining these initiatives which is a very positive uh uh which is reflective of the um the positive uh developments associated with this in the last few years. Thank you.

[00:22:09]>> Thank you sir. Uh sir with that uh with your permission uh we would like to conclude this special media briefing. Uh thank you friends for joining. The briefing is concluded.

[00:22:23]>> Thank you.

[00:22:24]>> Thank you.

[00:22:27][clears throat]