The envoys who presented their credentials were the High Commissioner of Nigeria, Oyebola Kuku, Ambassador of Belarus, Vladimir Goshin, Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire, Sainy Tiemele, Ambassador of Luxembourg, Gaston Stronck, Ambassador of Hungary, Dr Janos Terenyi, High Commissioner of Fiji, Yogesh Karan, Ambassador of Tunisia, Tarek Azouz, Ambassador of Cuba, Abelardo Rafael Cueto Sosa, Ambassador of Macedonia, Slobodan Tashoski, Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Ibrahim Assad oglu Hajiyev and Ambassador of France, Francois Richier.

Welcoming the envoys the President said that India was a large country and the world’s largest democracy, as well as one of the fastest growing economies of the world. She said that India was working for greater growth to meet the aspirations of its people and was committed to inclusive growth.

The President mentioned that to fulfil these aspirations, India 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. A growing India will expand opportunities for the global economy as well, the President emphasized. India also seeks to enlarge economic engagement with other countries for peace, progress and development.

Speaking about global governance structures, the President said India has 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 reflect contemporary realities as well as to make them more credible and effective.

The credential presentation ceremony was attended by the senior members of the Missions, senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Rashtrapati Bhavan.