The President of India Ram Nath Kovind and the President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades led delegation level talks between India and Cyprus at the Presidential Palace in Cyprus on Monday.
Both the countries signed the agreements in financial intelligence to help combat money laundering, terror financing; and greater cooperation on environmental issues.
While addressing the members of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, President Kovind called Cyprus as one of the most steadfast partners in the international community and said “India is open for business – and India is open for Cyprus.”
“Our shared values and symbols are present in the mutual respect for each other’s founding figures. In New Delhi, a major road is named in honour of the venerable Archbishop Makarios. Shortly before coming here, I paid tribute before a bust of Mahatma Gandhi.”
Delighted to start my official engagements in Cyprus by paying tributes to Archbishop Makarios and Mahatma Gandhi. Figures like Gandhiji and Archbishop Makarios don’t belong to any one country. They are part of the heritage of humanity #PresidentKovind pic.twitter.com/je8mfL5qzd
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 3, 2018
The President also lauded the Goods and Service Tax and said “GST has led to uniform, simpler and digitally-enabled taxation in all of our 29 states. It has integrated the country into one business system. This is a historic achievement that can be compared to bringing the European Union into a common fiscal framework.”
Calling India as the world’s fastest growing large economy with a GDP growth at 8.2 per cent in the previous quarter, President Kovind said “India is open for business and investment – and India is open for Cyprus. Do come, and come quickly!”
The President said that the high-quality Indian generics and vaccines have driven down prices, reduced costs of healthcare and helped communities across the world.
The President also invited Cyprus to become part of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
As India has called for finalising the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations, the President said that India counts on Cyprus’s support to defeat radicalism and terrorism.
The President also appreciated Cyprus’s unstinting backing of India’s candidature for an expanded UN Security Council as well as for the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group.