MoS Margherita to visit Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa from July 18-25

Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita will pay an official visit to Eswatini, Lesotho from July 18-22 and to South Africa from July 23-25, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.

During his visit to Eswatini, Margherita, also MoS Textiles, is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on King Mswati III and the Prime Minister of Eswatini. He is expected to hold a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Eswatini to discuss matters of mutual interest and to review the progress of bilateral relations.

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“The visit will focus on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, capacity building, development partnership, and people-to-people exchanges,” the MEA said in a statement.

The MoS will also engage with the Indian diaspora and participate in events highlighting India’s development partnership initiatives in Eswatini. This visit is expected to further enhance the longstanding and friendly relations between India and Eswatini.

In Lesotho, Margherita is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on King Letsie III, and Samuel Matekane, Prime Minister of Lesotho.

The MoS will also have a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations.

He is expected to meet the Minister of Information, Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation; the Minister of Education and Training; and the Minister of Labour and Employment in Maseru.

In South Africa, the MoS will lead a delegation to participate in the upcoming G-20 Development Ministerial Meetings (DMM) on July 24-25 in Skukuza, South Africa, and is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with the South African Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Lydia Ramokgopa and other ministers responsible for Development and Heads of Delegations of other G20 Members, invited countries and International Organisations participating in the DMM.

Margherita is also expected to have bilateral engagements and interactions with prominent leaders of businesses and members of the Indian community in Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa, the statement added.