Embassy of India

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Political Relations

India established its diplomatic relations with the Union of Comoros in June 1976. Our Embassy in Antananarivo is concurrently accredited to Comoros. India and Comoros have always enjoyed close and friendly relations. Both the countries have similarities of view on regional and global issues. Comoros is a supporter of India’s permanent membership of the UNSC. India is looked upon as a role model of development in Comoros.

            A proposal to set up a vocational training centre (VTC) in Moroni to impart skills in plumbing, welding, electricity, civil works, IT, etc. is under consideration of the Government of India.  A plot of land in Mitsamiouili has been identified to set up VTC and it is under evaluation. EXIM Bank of India has offered a concessional credit of US$41.6 million for setting up a power plant in Moroni and the same has been accepted by Comoros. An Agreement to implement the LOC has been signed on 22 February 2013 at New Delhi. The contract, by means of tender process to erect a power plant, has been awarded to an Indian company Overseas Infrastructure Alliance Ltd.  In December 2012, Government of India provided US$ 100,000/- as assistance to Comoros for losses suffered on account of torrential rains in April 2012.  The Pan-African e-Network started its operations in Comoros in September 2010 but utilization is low.

            The Government of India had also granted exemption from ban on export of 25,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice to the Union of Comoros to help relieve the food crisis in Comoros in 2008. 

            A number of VVIP/High-Level visits from Comoros to India had taken place during 2004 to 2013, which are as follows:

 

Bilateral Visit 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	Aug 2004	Bilateral visit
2.	Mr. Ahmed Ben Said Djaffer Minister of External Relations & Cooperation	Jul 2006	Bilateral visit
3.	Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Mohamed Sambi, President of Comoros	4-8 Nov 2007	To participate in the 4th International Conference on Federalism.
4	Mr. Fahmi Said Ibrahim Minister of External Relations & Cooperation	18-19 Feb 2011	To attend the LDCs Conference
5.	Mr. Mohamed Issimail Minister for National Education	01-02 Mar 2012	To participate in India-Africa Science & Technology Ministerial Meeting
6.	Mr. Mohamed Bakri Ben AbdoulafatahCharif, Minister of External Relations & Cooperation	02 Nov 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 Feb 2013	To sign Agreement with EXIM Bank for grant of US$ 41.6 million LOC

Bilateral Visits from India to Comoros:  In October 2011, Shri Gurjit Singh, formerly Additional Secretary (Eastern& Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, paid a visit to the Island to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries and also promised to take necessary steps to increase the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. During the visit announcement was made for an additional concessional credit of US Dollars 35 million for projects to be chosen by the Government of Comoros. This is being followed up with the Comorian Government, including during meetings of Ambassador with the Foreign Minister in October 2013 and January 2014 inMoroni.

 

A number of scholarships/ training courses are being offered by the Government of India to Comoros under ITEC, IAFS, etc. programmes.  The utilization on part of the Comoros is gradually improving as compared to previous years.  Data in this regard is as follows:

 

Sl. No	Training programme/ Scholarship	Year (allotted and utilized)
		2012-13		2013-14		2014-to date
		Allotted	Utilized	Allotted	Utilized	Allotted	Utilized
1.	ITEC	10	06	30	05	30	12
2.	IAFS-II	-	-	-	02	--	--
3.	CV Raman	-	-	-	-	--	--
4.	FSI Course	-	-	-	01	-	-
5.	ICCR General scholarship	--	-	05	-	09	05