The Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is on a five-day state visit to India from September 9 and is scheduled to meet the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh over delegation level talks on Wednesday after her return from a short visit to Hyderabad.

The two leaders will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues.

She is accompanied by a high-level delegation including the Liberian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Information, Culture and Tourism, Lands, Mines and Energy and Gender development, besides senior Government officials and representatives of apex trade bodies.

President Sirleaf is the first women head of state in the African Continent. This is the first ever visit of a Liberian head of state to India.

India-Liberia bilateral trade is about $150 million with balance in favour of India. Pharmaceuticals and engineering products are main items of Indian exports.
On Wednesday after being accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Liberian President will be called upon by the Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

After delegation level talks with the Indian Prime Minister followed by signing of agreements, the Liberian President will address a business summit jointly organised by three Indian industry bodies – FICCI, CII and Assocham.

In the evening President Sirleaf will be received by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee who will also hold a banquet in her honour.

On Thursday she will be conferred upon Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year 2012. The Prize is being awarded to her for serving as an example and inspiration to women in Africa and beyond and for ensuring the return of peace, democracy and development in Liberia.

President Sirleaf will also deliver the annual Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Lecture, sixth in the series. This annual lecture is organised by the Babu Jagjivan Ram National Foundation, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to observe the birth anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram.

Relations between India and Liberia are close and friendly, marked by a growing economic engagement. Liberia’s rich natural resources and its on-going programme of infrastructure and industrial development, provide significant potential for enhancement of trade and investment ties between the two countries.

There is a considerable goodwill for India in Liberia. The Indian participation in the UN peace-keeping operations in Liberia and the deployment of a 125 member female CRPR unit, in particular, has been highly appreciated by the Government and people of Liberia.

President Sirleaf, a recipient of several prestigious awards including the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011, is a respected voice in the region. Liberia has been playing a pro-active role in the region to strengthen peace, democracy and regional integration. The visit of the President of Liberia is expected to lead to further expansion of bilateral engagement.