New Delhi: The third round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Benin ended on June 25, 2024, with an aim to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press statement.
The Indian delegation, led by Additional Secretary (C&WA) Sevala Naik Mude, and the Beninese delegation, led by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Frank Armel Afoukou, discussed a wide range of issues, including political, trade and economic, defense, development partnership, capacity building, cultural relations, and more.
Both sides also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to enhance their cooperation in the multilateral fora. The consultations also focused on the promotion of developmental cooperation and capacity building in the spirit of South-South cooperation.
The bilateral trade and investment between India and Benin has been growing steadily, with total bilateral trade reaching US$ 1.34 billion during 2022-23. This growth is expected to continue in the coming years, with around 90 Indian or Indian-owned companies operating in Benin in areas such as automobiles, textiles, and food processing.
The next round of consultations has been scheduled for New Delhi at a mutually convenient date.