Spotlight: Comoros
Moroni (Comoros): India and Comoros reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties between the two countries here today. In this regard, Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar met Foreign Minister of Comoros D Dhoulkamal, as well as Ali Ibouroi, the Minister of Energy and Miroidi Abdou Idarousse, Head of the ONICOR, the State Procurement Agency of Comoros.
While Ibouroi discussed the cooperation in the energy generation sector between the two countries, Idarousse and Kumar discussed promoting trade ties with India.
India and Comoros have always enjoyed close and friendly relations ever since the two nations established diplomatic relations in June 1976. The Indian Embassy in Antananarivo in Madagascar is concurrently accredited to Comoros.
Both the countries have similarities of view on regional and global issues. Comoros is a supporter of India’s permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. India is looked upon as a role model of development in Comoros.
India is the largest export destination of Comoros. The Indian Ocean island nation is also a beneficiary of the Government of India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference scheme introduced in April 2008.
The main items of import from Comoros to India are coffee, tea, mate, spices, iron, steel, electrical machinery and equipment, sound recorders and reproducers, television image, and copper, while the main items of export from India to Comoros are cotton, meat and edible meat offal, article of apparel and clothing accessories knitted or crocheted, pharmaceuticals products, sugars and sugar confectionery.
Bilateral Trade Figures (US Dollar Million)
Strategically located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique, Comoros is predominantly a Muslim country with 98% population following Sunni Islam. The Indian diaspora here comprises around 250 persons and the majority of them are engaged in trade and business. The role played by the Indian community in the overall development of Comoros is highly appreciated at all levels. In recent years, a number of young professionals have started working for some foreign companies in Comoros.
During the COVID period, in response to the two requests received from the Government of Comoros for the supply of medicines, a 14-member medical assistance team from India visited Comoros from June 1 to 18, 2020 and visited three islands of Comoros Anjouan, Moheli and Grande Comore. It also donated a consignment of medicines as relief assistance in support of its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. India also offered the COVID-19 vaccine to Comoros.
Moreover, the Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa visited the port of Anjouan in Comoros from 14-18 March 2021 to deliver 1000 MT of rice in fulfilment of the announcement of the donation of rice made during the visit of the Vice-President of India to Comoros in October 2019. The consignment of rice was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Comoros, Dhoihir Dhoulkamal. The formal presentation ceremony of the consignment was held on March 15, 2021, and Ambassador Abhay Kumar also participated in it virtually.
– global bihari bureau
