New Delhi, August 3 (RHC) -- Foreign Minister Subrahmanyan Jaishankar today announced his visit to Cuba in September, which he considered an opportunity to continue boosting India's ties with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Jaishankar confirmed his trip without giving further details, during the opening this Thursday of the IX India-LAC Conclave, which until next Saturday concentrates in New Delhi ministerial delegations from 17 countries, including the Caribbean nation.

The Indian Foreign Minister is expected to participate in the Summit of the Group of 77 (G77) plus China, to be held on the island on September 15 and 16.

In his presentation at the opening session, Jaishankar expressed his gratitude for the broad participation in the event, which Cuba is attending with a delegation headed by the governor of the central province of Cienfuegos, Alexandre Quintero.

The island's representation is also made up of the vice minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Deborah Rivas; Idalberto Pérez, general director of Industrial Management of the Ministry of Industries; Edel Gómez, head of the electronics industry portfolio group, and other officials.

Jaishankhar also celebrated the increase in bilateral economic ties and highlighted that exports from his country to several Latin American nations are more than double those of neighboring states or traditionally important trading partners.

However, the Chancellor ratified the interest in reaching by 2028 a trade link above 100 billion dollars, that is to say, double what is currently being executed.

To achieve the goal, the Foreign Minister called for exploring new avenues in the sectors of mining, renewable energy, health services, infrastructure, digitalization and innovation and agriculture, in terms of food security.

He added that the future of India-LAC tie-up promises in the pillars of supply chain diversification, resource partnerships, sharing of development partnerships and addressing global challenges.(Source:PL)