New Delhi, Feb 10 (Agency) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met El Salvador’s Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco with the two sides discussing health cooperation and ways of expanding trade. In a tweet, Jaishankar also welcomed the central American country’s support for India’s UNSC candidature. “Delighted to meet FM @CancillerAleHT of El Salvador today afternoon in New Delhi. “Discussed health cooperation, solar activities, capacity building and expanding commerce. “Welcomed support for our UNSC candidature,” he posted.
He added that India looks forward to closer engagement with the Central American Integration System (SICA), referring to the institutional framework for Regional Integration in Central America. The grouping comprises Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama as full members and the Dominican Republic as Associate Member. The first round of India-SICA foreign ministers meeting took place in 2004, the second in 2008 and the third in 2015. India has set up Centres of Excellence in Information Technology in the SICA countries, and is also keen to promote cooperation in areas such as agriculture, food security, energy security, MSMEs, and capacity building. Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi visited El Salvador, along with Bolivia, Cuba and Guatemala last month, as part of cementing India’s outreach to the region. On her meeting with the El Salvadorian Foreign Minister yesterday, she tweeted: “It was a pleasure interacting with the Foreign Minister of El Salvador Ms. Alexandra Hill T. @CancillerAleHT and accompanying delegation today over lunch. Discussed range of issues of mutual interest.”