First Ever Delegation From Guinea Meets Sushma Swaraj
Agapito Mba Mokuy, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of The Republic of Equatorial Guinea who is on his first visit to India met the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar today in New Delhi.
Mokuy held delegation-level talks with the two ministers, where they discussed ways to further enhance bilateral co-operation between the two countries.
There has been no official statement by the ministry of external affairs so far which indicates signing of any documents between the two countries.
This is the first time India has a witnessed a high-level visit from Guinea.
India at present has no agreements with Equatorial Guinea nor are any agreements pending. There has so far not been any joint commission or joint trade committee with the country.
As per the MEA, the only significant possible trade exchange between the two countries was when EXIM Bank Of India was willing to extend a line of Credit in 2005 for a portable drinking water project, which was cancelled in June 2012, as the country could not prepare relevant documents within the stipulated period and fulfill other formalities, as required for the Line of Credit agreement.
Bilateral trade between Equatorial Guinea and India grew from US$ 4.87 million in 2006–07 to $764.39 million in 2014–15. India exported $15.01 million worth of goods to Equatorial Guinea, and imported $749.38 million in 2014-15.
The main commodities exported by India to Equatorial Guinea are fish, crustaceans, and iron and steel. The major commodities imported by India from Equatorial Guinea are crude oil and oil derivatives, seeds, medicinal plants, ore, slag and ash, wood and wood articles, natural or cultured pearls, stones, and imitation jewellery.
Guinea supports a really small Indian diaspora of almost 300 Indian citizens settled over.
