External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a significant telephone conversation with his Nicaraguan counterpart, Denis Moncada Colindres, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation and addressing global issues of mutual interest. This call marked the first direct communication between the two ministers in recent months.
Jaishankar shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Good to receive a call from Foreign Minister Denis Moncada Colindres of Nicaragua. Discussed our bilateral cooperation and global issues of mutual interest.”
This conversation follows Moncada Colindres’ visit to New Delhi in October 2019 and their meeting in April 2023 during the India-SICA (Central American Integration System) Foreign Ministers meeting in Panama.
In March 2023, India and Nicaragua took a significant step in their bilateral relations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Pharmacopoeia cooperation. This agreement, signed by India’s Ambassador to Nicaragua, Dr Sumit Seth, and Nicaragua’s Minister of Health, Dr Martha Reyes, marked Nicaragua as the first Spanish-speaking nation to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia. This MoU aims to enhance cooperation in the regulation of medicines, benefiting both countries’ healthcare sectors.
Deepening Diplomatic Relations
Diplomatic relations between India and Nicaragua were established in March 1983, and since then, both nations have worked towards strengthening their ties. India’s Ministry of External Affairs reports that the total bilateral trade between the two countries stands at $119.33 million for the year 2022-23, with India’s exports at $108.69 million and imports at $10.64 million.
India has made significant contributions to Nicaragua’s development, including the establishment of an IT training center in Managua. Additionally, India has extended three Lines of Credit (LoCs) to Nicaragua, totalling over $67 million for various power sector projects. These projects aim to boost Nicaragua’s infrastructure and economic development.
Healthcare and Development Partnership
India has also shown its commitment to improving healthcare in Nicaragua through various donations and projects. Over the years, India has donated medicines worth approximately $2 million to Nicaragua. Notably, in April 2014, India donated 1530 kg of medicines to combat dengue, and in 2018, provided medicines worth $50,000. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India supplied Nicaragua with a medical aid package, including 310,000 HCQL tablets and other essential medical supplies.
India-SICA Collaboration
As part of India’s engagement with SICA countries, an IT training center was established in Managua and handed over to the Nicaraguan government in 2011. Nicaragua has benefited from various educational and training programs under India’s ITEC initiative, with 25 courses allocated for the year 2022-23. Additionally, Guillermo Gonzales from Nicaragua’s Ministry of Energy and Mines participated in an advanced program on solar energy technologies in India in 2017, showcasing the collaborative efforts in renewable energy.
The Indian Embassy in Panama is concurrently accredited to Nicaragua, further facilitating diplomatic and development cooperation between the two countries.
Migration Challenges
Amidst the strengthening of bilateral ties, a challenging issue remains: the “donkey route” used by undocumented Indian migrants. This path involves traveling through multiple countries, including Nicaragua, to reach Canada or Mexico. Despite the risks, the number of undocumented Indian immigrants encountered by the US Customs and Border Protection has surged to 96,917 in 2022-23, compared to just 1,500 a decade ago.
This trend highlights the complex socio-economic factors driving migration and the need for continued international cooperation to address these challenges.
With ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation in healthcare, education, and development, both nations are poised to strengthen their partnership further and address global issues collaboratively.