Supply of 1000 MT of rice. (Delivered in March 2021 during the visit of INS Jalashwa to Comoros. Foreign Minister Dhoihir Dhoulkamal received the consignment on behalf of Govt. of Comoros.)
9. President of the Union of Comoros, H.E. Mr. Azali Assoumani led a Comorian delegation to participate in the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance in New Delhi in March 2018.
10. The then Minister of State for Science & Technology, Mr. Y.S. Chowdhary visited Comoros as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of India in August 2015.
Trade-Economic Cooperation
11. India is the second largest export destination for Comoros. As an LDC, Comoros is also a beneficiary under GoI’s Duty Free Tariff Preference scheme introduced in April 2008.
12. Balance of Trade –The total export and import figures of India with respect to Comoros available on Export-Import Data Bank of Department of Commerce, Government of India for the last five years is given below:
13. Bilateral Trade Figures (US Dollar Million)
|
Years
|
2019-20
|
2020-21
|
2021-22
|
2022-23
|
2023-24
|
|
India’s Export
|
18.88
|
18.26
|
23.05
|
39.83
|
27.95
|
|
India’s Import
|
19.65
|
12.48
|
14.87
|
16.11
|
18.65
|
|
Total Trade
|
38.52
|
30.74
|
37.91
|
55.93
|
46.6
|
Source: DGFT
14. Main Items of Import and Export: Top commodities of import from Comoros to India are cloves, iron and steel, copper, aluminium etc. and the top commodities of export from India to Comoros are rice, meat, cotton, sugar, textiles etc.
Developmental Partnership
15. Lt. Col. Moudjib Rahmane Adaine, National Development Army, Comoros attended the ITEC Executive programme held at the National Defence College in New Delhi from 18-30 March 2024.
16. Mr. Hassane Ahamada Mohamed Hassane, Deputy Director General and Mrs. Ali Mohamed Naifata, Financial Governance Monitoring Officer of the Ministry of Finance of Comoros attended the ITEC Executive programme entitled "Global Trends in Building Infrastructure for Development" held at IIM Indore from 28 April – 11 May 2024.
17. Technical Adviser to the Director General of of Civil Security (DGCS) Mr. Samil Chakira and Deputy Director of Resources, DGCS Mr. Ali Abdoulkader took part in a Workshop titled "Strengthening Capacity of Power Sector Practitioners in the Indo-Pacific Region" organized at CDRI, New Delhi from 4 -7 June 2024, under Quad Infrastructure Coordination Group.
18. India offers a number of scholarships to Comoros under its developmental partnership. As on date, total slots availed by Comoros are:
i. ICCR: 39
ii. ITEC-Civilian: 96
iii. IAFS-III: 29
iv. Ilearn portal: 2
Humanitarian Assistance
19. In December 2012, Government of India provided US$ 100,000 as assistance to Comoros for losses suffered on account of torrential rains in April 2012.
20. In response to the requests received from the Government of Comoros for supply of medicines including 600mg Chloroquine and 250mg Azythromycin in dealing with Covid-19 situation, during telephonic conversation between the Foreign Minister of Comoros and EAM, a 14-member Medical Assistance Team visited from India onboard INS Kesari from 1 to 18 June, 2020 as India’s support to Comoros in fight against spread of Dengue and Covid-19. A consignment of medicines as relief assistance was also donated by India to Comoros in support of its fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
21. INS 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 donation of rice made during the visit of the Hon’ble Vice-President of India to Comoros in Oct 2019. The consignment of rice was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Comoros, H.E. Mr. Dhoihir Dhoulkamal.
22. EXIM Bank of India had offered a concessional credit of US$41.6 million in the year 2013 for setting up a power plant in Moroni and the same has been accepted by Comoros. An Agreement to implement the LOC has been signed and the foundation stone for the project, laid in July 2015. A consortium of BHEL and Indian company Overseas Infrastructure Alliance (OIA) Ltd. are the contractors of the project.
23. India donated Anti TB Drugs to Comoros in July 2022 under NTEP (National Tuberculosis Elimination Program).
Culture
24. An ICCR-sponsored Indian Contemporary Dance Group visited Moroni and performed at the Comorian National Assembly Hall on 28 August, 2018. This was the first ever visit by an Indian dance group to Comoros. The event was attended by the Comorian President along with First Lady, the Foreign Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly as well as a few other Ministers and senior dignitaries. One Comorian national participated in Kumbh Mela celebrations organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations from 21-24 March, 2019. A 15-member delegation participated from Comoros in the Surajkund Mela (Haryana) in February2020 and in February 2023. 12 artists from Comoros took part in the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Haryana from 2-18 February 2024.
25. All editions of International Day of Yoga have been celebrated in Moroni with the participation of government dignitaries, members of diplomatic corps and Indian diaspora. 10th International Day of Yoga was celebrated in Moroni on 14 June 2024.
Indian Diaspora
26. The Indian Diaspora comprises of around 250 persons and 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. The Indian Diaspora has been playing significant role in promoting Indian culture and traditional values in Comoros. In recent years, a number of young professionals have started working for some foreign companies in Comoros.
Resources:
www.eoiantananarivo.gov.in
https://www.facebook.com/IndiainAntananarivoMadagascar/?ref=bookmarks
https://twitter.com/IndembTana
https://www.instagram.com/indiainmadagascar/
ANNEXURE-1
Bilateral Visits from Comoros to India
|
Sl. No.
|
Name of the Visitor
|
Date of visit
|
Purpose
|
|
1.
|
Mr. Souef Mohamed El-Amine, Minister of External Relations & Cooperation
|
August 2004
|
Bilateral visit
|
|
2.
|
Mr. Ahmed Ben Said Djaffer Minister of External Relations & Cooperation
|
July 2006
|
Bilateral visit
|
|
3.
|
Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Mohamed Sambi, President of Comoros
|
4-8 November 2007
|
To participate in the 4th International Conference on Federalism.
|
|
4.
|
Mr. Fahmi Said Ibrahim Minister of External Relations & Cooperation
|
18-19 February 2011
|
To attend the LDCs Conference
|
|
5.
|
Mr. Mohamed Issimail Minister for National Education
|
01-02 March 2012
|
To participate in India-Africa Science & Technology Ministerial Meeting
|
|
6.
|
Mr. Mohamed Bakri Ben Abdoulafatah Charif, Minister of External Relations & Cooperation
|
02 November 2012
|
To participate in the Council of Ministers Meeting of Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)
|
|
7.
|
Mr. Mohamed Ali Soilihi Vice President in-charge of Finance Ministry
|
21-23 February 2013
|
To sign Agreement with EXIM Bank for grant of US$ 41.6 million LOC
|
|
8.
|
Mr. Mohamed Ali Soilihi Vice President in-charge of Finance Ministry
|
21-23 October 2015
|
4th India Africa Trade Ministers Meeting (IATM)
|
|
9.
|
Dr.Ikililou Dhoinine, President of Comoros
|
23-29 October 2015
|
IAFS III Summit
|
|
10.
|
Dr.Abdulkarim Mohamed, Minister of Foreign Affairs
|
January 2016
|
Ist India Arab League Ministerial Conference, Manama
|
|
11.
|
Mr.Azali Assoumani, President
|
10-12 March 2018
|
Led 16-member delegation including Foreign Minister El-Souef Amine for the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance in New Delhi.
|
|
12.
|
Mr. Abdou Moustadroine, Minister of Energy, Agriculture, Fisheries & Environment
|
3 October 2018
|
Led the Comorian delegation in the First General Assembly meeting of the International Solar Alliance member countries in New Delhi
|
|
13.
|
Mr. Dhoihir Dhoulkamal,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Comoros
|
3-5 February 2021
|
Took part in the Aero India 2021 and IOR Defence Ministers Conclave in Bangalore and had a meeting with Hon’ble Defence Minister of India Shri Rajnath Singh.
|
|
14.
|
Mr. Moudjib Rahmane Adaine, Chief of Comorian Coast Guard
|
7-9 November 2021.
|
Goa Maritime Conclave 2021
|
|
15.
|
Mr. Moudjib Rahmane Adaine, Chief of Comorian Coast Guard
|
24-28 February 2022
|
MILAN 2022.
|
|
16.
|
Mr. Moudjib Rahmane Adaine, Chief of Comorian Coast Guard
|
18-22 October 2022
|
Took part in Def Expo 2022 in Gandhinagar (Gujarat).
|
|
17.
|
Col. Said Hamza, Technical Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Comorian Army
|
13-17 February 2023
|
Took part in Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru
|
|
18.
|
Mr. Dhoihir Dhoulkamal,
Foreign Minister of Comoros
|
1-3 March 2023
|
Toook part in the G-20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi.
|
|
19.
|
Lt-Col Kamali Ali, Chief of Land Force of Comoros
|
28-30 March 2023
|
Africa- India Exercise (AFINDEX) in Pune.
|
|
20.
|
Mr. Ahmed Ali Bazi,
Minister of Economy and Industry of Comoros
|
11-13 June 2023
|
G-20 Development Ministers Meeting in Varanasi.
|
|
21.
|
H.E. Mr. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros
|
9-10 September 2023
|
G-20 Summit in New Delhi in his capacity as the President of the African Union
|
|
22.
|
H.E. Mr. Youssoufa Mohamad Ali, Delegate of Defence at the Presidency of Comoros (Defence Minister
|
29-31 October 2023
|
4th Addition of Goa Maritime Conclave hosted by Indian Navy in Goa.
|
|
23.
|
Lieutenant Siradji Chamsidine, Commander of the Moroni Naval Base
|
February 19 to 27, 2024
|
MILAN 2024 Naval Exercise in Visakhapatnam
|
July, 2024
***
