Fiji’s High Commissioner to India His Excellency Yogesh Karan presented his credentials to the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace) today.
High Commissioner Karan presented his credentials alongside envoys from 11 other nations.
In welcoming the diplomats, the President said India was working for greater growth to meet the aspirations of its people and was committed to inclusive growth.
To fulfill these aspirations,she said the country was expanding its social infrastructure particularly education, skill building and health, as well as putting into place extensive physical infrastructure over the next five years, with an investment of over one trillion dollars.
“A growing India will expand opportunities for the global economy as well,” the President said.
“India also seeks to enlarge economic engagement with other countries for peace, progress and development.”
Speaking on global governance structures, President Patil said India had all the credentials for its legitimate aspiration to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
She also emphasized that reforms in international bodies must be taken up, so that they reflected contemporary realities as well as to make them more credible and effective.