Diplomats Lay Thrust on Trade, Investment and Global Opportunities
“It is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to Mumbai after one of the finest tenures of my diplomatic career. The warmth of the people, the friendships we have built and the opportunity to work with Mumbai’s highly responsive business community have made this experience truly memorable. Mumbai, as India’s commercial, financial and entertainment capital, offers tremendous opportunities for…
In his farewell remarks as Consul General of Belgium in Mumbai, Ambassador Frank Geerkens expressed his deep satisfaction with his tenure, praising India’s commercial and financial capital for providing invaluable business opportunities, particularly in light of the pending India–EU Free Trade Agreement. The city, he noted, is more than just a place of residence; it grows on you and fosters a profound sense of accomplishment in advancing bilateral relations.
Mr. José Mauro da Fonseca Costa Couto, Consul General of Brazil in Mumbai, emphasized the importance of building relationships, trust, and common interests in business, investment, and technology transfer when relocating to a new country. He highlighted the role of institutions like the World Trade Center Mumbai in nurturing goodwill and strengthening connections between nations.
Consul General of Japan, Ms. Sato Hitomi, discussed the burgeoning interest in cultural and business exchanges between India and Japan. She expressed optimism about fostering greater collaboration, citing ongoing infrastructure projects in Mumbai, such as the Atal Setu, Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail, and Metro projects, as evidence of Japan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
Shri Praveen Singh Pardeshi, CEO of MITRA, the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation, underscored the state’s dedication to attracting foreign investment and supporting policies that empower women entrepreneurs, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and exporters. Maharashtra, he affirmed, is striving to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030 and is actively promoting policies and initiatives to drive economic growth and employment.
Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of the MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai and President of the All India Association of Industries (AIAI), praised Mumbai’s enduring warmth and welcoming spirit. He anticipated building strong associations with new diplomatic counterparts from Japan and Brazil, while bidding farewell to Ambassador Geerkens with gratitude for his impactful contributions to bilateral relations.
India’s existing bilateral trade with these three nations amounted to over USD 52 billion, with the potential to double to USD 104 billion within the next five years through enhanced trade, investment, and collaboration in areas such as innovation, artificial intelligence, technology, healthcare, and other emerging sectors. The Diplomatic Corps Gathering, attended by over 30 Consuls General and government officials, underscored World Trade Center Mumbai’s commitment to fostering closer international cooperation, especially in trade, investment, business, tourism, and people-to-people relations.
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