Question: President of India was on visit of which of the following three countries from March 25 to April 1, 2019?
(a) Croatia, Chile and Hungary
(b) Croatia, Venezuela and Argentina
(c) Croatia, Guatemala and Ghana
(d) Croatia, Bolivia and Chile
Answer: (d)
Related facts:
- President of India Ram Nath Kovind was on a state visit to Croatia, Bolivia and Chile from 30 March to 1 April 2019.
- Accompanied by a high-level delegation,President’s visit to these three countries aims to strengthen bilateral ties and provide new direction to multi-faceted development of India`s bilateral relations.
Visit to Croatia:
- In Croatia, President had meetings with the Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and the Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
- Ram Nath Kovind is the first President of India to visit Croatia.
- In order to encourage bilateral ties four Memorandum of Understandings were signed: two in culture, one each in tourism, and sports.
- President of India was also honoured with Croatia’s highest civilian award – the Grand Order of the King of Tomislav.
- India and Croatia have close cultural links. The Indology Department at the University of Zagreb has a long history of over six decades, and an ICCR Hindi Chair was set up a decade ago.
- The two countries are now focusing on strengthening trade and investment linkages. There are already investments by some Indian companies in areas of pharmaceuticals, information technology and renewable energy.
Bolivia Visit:
- In his second leg of three nations tour,President visited Bolivia on 29 March 2019. He was welcomed by Bolivian President President Evo Morales at Viru Viru International Airport, Santa Cruz .
- It is worth to mention that Kovind is the first President of India to visit Bolivia.
- He participated in India-Bolivia business forum meeting and also interacted with the students at the University in Santa Cruz.
- Bolivia has large deposits of lithium, gold, silver and gas reserves.
- Bolivia’s Lithium and our needs for eMobility and eStorage provide natural synergies. As Bolivia embarks on industrialization of its resources, India is a willing partner for know-how, technology and skills. In the Financial Year 2017-18, the bilateral trade grew by 205% to reach US 772 million dollar.
Visit to Chile:
- In Chile President met Sebastián Piñera President of Chile celebrating the 70th year of establishment of India-Chile diplomatic relations.
- President Kovind participated in the India-Chile Business Forum and interacted with young scientists at the University of Chile.
- President Kovind laid a wreath at Monument of General Bernardo O’ Higgins, who struggled for Chile’s independence from Spain.
- Chile has a wealth of natural resources including copper and forests, control over a large part of Antarctica and a long maritime boundary.
- India has a Preferential Trade Agreement with Chile that was expanded in the year 2017.
- Chile is the sixth largest trading partner of India in LAC region. India imports 2092 mn dollar and exports 764 mn dollar.
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