santo Domingo.- The Western Hemisphere Secretary of India Mr. M. Ganapathi visited the Dominican Republic where he hosted a dinner for government officials and private sector representatives.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Ganapathi referred to the increasing bilateral relations between India and the Dominican Republic economically and politically. He noted that in the last five years he’s the third senior official of the Indian Foreign Ministry, who visited Dominican Republic, which is a demonstration of the Indian Government's commitment to strengthen and consolidate our bilateral trade. India considers the Dominican Republic a strategic partner in their desire to come to the region of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dominican Ambassador in New Delhi Mr. Hans Dannenberg Castellanos also addressed the audience, who provided an overview of the current situation and the potential relations between the two countries, and said that trade has increased to US$111 million annually and Dominican products, like tobacco, are now readily available in China.

Dannenberg also spoke of the increase in tourist arrivals from India, those residing in the U.S., Canada and the UK as well as in the Asian country.

India’s newly designated Ambassador to Dominican Republic C. Rajasekhar also attended the dinner, whose special guests included Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD) director Jean A. Rodriguez, Deputy Foreign Minister Cesar Dargam, India Chamber of Commerce in Dominican Republic President Jabar Singh, Round Table of Commonwealth Countries in Dominican Republic President Fernando Gonzalez Nicolas, Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs Committee member Minou Tavarez Mirabal,, Vicini Group Vice President Campos de Moya, among others.