Remarks by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar at Passion Fruit Processing Facility Handover Ceremony, Paramaribo, Suriname (May 06, 2026)

Foreign Minister Melvin Bouva,
Agriculture Minister Mike Noersalim,
Acting Director MCP Agro

Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is today a real pleasure, to join you all this morning as we gather here for this important handing over ceremony. Yesterday, at the ends of our talks, Minister, I was asked by your press to explain India's agriculture journey, and my answer yesterday was that especially in the last decade, that journey has been marked by policy support, by resources support, by technology support, and not least, by value add. And that agriculture journey, is not just a journey towards food and economic security, it is also a journey of more inclusive growth. And that is exactly the message today, that I would like to reiterate as we gather here to hand over what is to me a very important Micro & Small Enterprises development project concerning the food processing industry of Suriname. A few years ago, inspired by the approach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards Global South, after discussions at the India - COFCOR Ministerial meeting, we had agreed on such a project, and it is for me, a matter of personal satisfaction to be present here today in Suriname and be part of the handing over. Now we completely understand why when this offer of projects was made to our CARICOM partners, Suriname chose to identify a fruit processing installation as its preferred priority, and selected this site for erecting this particular plant. We appreciate that the intent is to empower local enterprise in learning management , to gainexperience, to add to that, Minister, as you said that particular value add which is so important for countries to gain in their journey, and to create opportunities for local farmers and empower rural women . I understand that yourGovernment has made efforts to encourage cultivation of Passion Fruits, through an incentive scheme and I am really pleased to note that this is also a machinery which can apply to other fruits in times to come.Now, while we are talking of a particular project in a very specific domain, I think this project also serves to underline a larger message of India as a partner of Suriname and of the Global South. Our commitment to 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (वसुधैवकुटुम्बकम्) which is 'the world as a family' is demonstrated not just in words, but through particular projects and specific activities, and I think this is a very good illustration of that.

Our cooperation, Ladies and Gentlemen, has been human-centric, and if one looks at our relationship over the last few years, you can see that it has had a direct impact on lives of ordinary citizens. Some of our recent initiatives include the supply of food grains , donation of military uniforms, Quick Impact Projects to which an ordinary everyday life can relate to, 'early warning systems' for disaster preparedness . So these are each examples, steps, which in one way or the other, do convey the message that friendships at the end of the day must make a difference to the lives of people. In last many decades, the Government of Suriname availed of Lines of credit, and yesterday Minister, in our discussions, we also explored the possibility that in times to come, it is a window which as per the priority of your government, we could continue to explore and develop. I want to underline today, that while we are here for a fruit processing project, our cooperation touches upon many other areas such as Health, and Energy, to Sports, and Capacity Building. And in the times to come, as Suriname advances in its quest for progress and prosperity, India will always be a reliable partner. We are always there to share our experiences and to collaborate in a manner in which your Government feels best in terms of its own national priorities and progress. So, once again, I want to thank you very much for having me here today. It is a real pleasure to join you at this ceremony. So many of you are so deeply invested in this relationship, and I am confident that today's event is symbolic of our shared desire to take our partnership to newer heights.

Jai Bharat! Jai Suriname!

Paramaribo
May 06, 2026