New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday visited a Hindu temple and interacted with the Indian community in Panama City.
Taking to his official Twitter handle, Jaishankar stated, "Began the morning in Panama City by seeking divine blessings at the Hindu temple and meeting an enthusiastic Indian community. Immensely delighted to see their love and devotion for the nation."
The external Affairs Minister arrived in Panama City on Monday from Guyana. He called on Panama's President Nito Cortizo and conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him.
The EAM during his interaction with the Indian community said that he was "surprised" when he was informed that it is for the first time in 60 years that an Indian External Affairs Minister was visiting Panama, reported news agency PTI.
He said, "I was surprised about whether there were lesser efforts on your side or your invitation was not enthusiastic enough..."
Jaishankar also mentioned that during the last few years, former Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu and MoS for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi visited Panama. He expressed full confidence regarding more representatives visiting the country in the future.
He also spoke about his meeting with Panama's President Laurentino Cortizo and Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo.
PTI reported that while interacting with the community, Jaishankar said that Panama’s President said that the changes happening in India, including developments related to digital, healthcare, inclusion, and infrastructure have global relevance.
He said that he felt happy after listening to Panama’s President’s views regarding India and the people of India residing in Panama.
Approximately 4,000 NRIs, 11,000 PIOs, and 15,000 Overseas Indians reside in Panama, a country located on the isthmus connecting the two continents of North America and South America, reported PTI. The majority of the Indians who live there are Gujaratis, Sindhis, and Sikhs.
During his interaction, he also spoke about Indians stranded in Sudan and the efforts the government is doing to safely evacuate them.
"I am here in Panama right now. I was in Guyana for the past few days. However, my mind is in Sudan. We are conducting 'Operation Kaveri' there in which we want to evacuate and save Indians who are stranded in Sudan. We are working to bring them back or shift them to some other country and safely evacuate them," he said.
India on Tuesday evacuated 278 Indians from Sudan on the naval ship INS Sumedha and rushed in essential relief supplies for its remaining stranded citizens.
Post his visit to Panama, he is scheduled to travel to Colombia, where he will meet with some of the top leaders of the nation and review bilateral ties with his counterpart, Alvaro Leyva Duran.
EAM S Jaishankar is on a nine-day trip to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.