Sunday marks the start of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Suriname. The President on Saturday left the national capital for a six-day visit to Suriname and Serbia. This is the president’s maiden visit to Suriname and also her first state visit since assuming office in July 2022.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) Saurabh Kumar on Friday informed that President Murmu will travel to Suriname and Serbia from June 4 to 9.
Briefing about the Suriname leg of President Murmu’s visit, he said she will be in Suriname on a state visit from June 4-6, at the invitation of Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. “This will be her maiden visit to Suriname. Maiden state visit after she assumed the office of President. The visit assumes historical significance as the President will be the chief guest at the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the arrival of Indians in Suriname, which would be celebrated on June 5,” the MEA Secretary (East) said during a special briefing on President’s visit to Suriname and Serbia.
The President is being accompanied by the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and Member of Parliament, Shrimati Rama Devi as well as an official delegation. The President will hold official talks with Suriname President Santokhi. Saurabh Kumar, during the briefing, said the President “will participate in a number of activities to commemorate the arrival of Indians in Suriname and visit the sites associated with their history in that country. The President will also interact with the Indian community”.
“The last presidential visit from India to Suriname was in 2018. India, Suriname relations are warm and friendly and acquire special significance on account of the Indian diaspora, which is over 27 per cent of the Suriname population,” the MEA Secretary (East) said.