Dili (East Timor): President Droupadi Murmu On Saturday, he hailed the “very small but active” Indian community in Timor-Leste as a “living bridge” for its role in improving bilateral relations and announced that India will soon open its embassy here.
President Murmu, who arrived earlier in the day on India’s first presidential visit to Timor-Leste, was speaking at an engagement event with the Indian diaspora in the Southeast Asian archipelagic nation.
Prior to this event, Murmu was awarded the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the country’s highest honour, by her counterpart José Ramos-Horta for her achievements in public service and her dedication to education, social welfare and women’s empowerment.
“The Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste awarded to me is a symbol of the manifestation of warmth and special friendship between the two countries,” she said at the outset while thanking President Ramos-Horta and the country for hosting her and the Indian delegation.
Underlining the “unsurpassed importance of Indian origin/Indian diaspora”, the President said, “The achievements of the Indian diaspora have been a matter of pride for India.” “We consider you as our living bridge. Each one of you is an ambassador of our great country. You represent India wherever you go. You have brought laurels to whatever field you have chosen with your discipline and sincerity,” the President said, adding, “You have blended very well with the local host country.” “Timore-Leste has a very small Indian community but it plays an active role in developing a bond of continued friendship between the two countries,” Murmu said.
“You are an important power, a bearer of our culture and a help in increasing harmony between the two nations,” he said.
“I am sure that you will continue to work to increase harmony between the two countries,” she said.
Murmu noted that East Timor, a country that has recently achieved independence, has a young and ambitious population and said that “many of the priorities and challenges of this country are similar to the shared efforts for development and progress that we have in our country.” “Our goal is to continue our traditional partnership with the people and country of East Timor,” he said.
“In this regard, I am pleased to inform that India will soon open an embassy in Timor-Leste, which will be of benefit to the citizens of this country and also to the people of Indian origin who are here to render various services,” the President announced.
At the ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta on 7 September 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision to establish an Indian Embassy in Dili as part of India’s efforts to boost its relations with the 10-member regional group.
Currently, people travelling from East Timor to India must obtain a visa from the Indian Embassy in Indonesia.
He enumerated India’s development paradigm, the progress the country has made across multiple sectors and how it has managed to bring the voice of the Global South to the G20 platform, among other issues.
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