–Indian Ambassador Clarifies on Report of Such Embargo
IPNEWS – The Indian Ambassador to Liberia, Mr. Pradip Kumar Yadav, has clarified that at no time has his country placed a ban on the export of parboiled rice from India to Liberia.
“Rice is India’s main export to Liberia and let me clarify that there is no ban on the export of parboiled rice from India to Liberia, which is the variety of rice imported by Liberia,” the Indian Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary disclosed Tuesday, August 16, at his country’s 76th Independence Day dinner, which was held at the Monrovia City Hall.
The Indian diplomat’s clarification comes after a businessman-turned politician, Mr. Simeon Freeman and other Liberians had warned of a serious rice crisis.
Specifically, Mr. Freeman, who is one of the 20 presidential candidates in the upcoming October 10th Presidential and Legislative Elections, was very forceful in his claims of the ban and not even the Ministry of Commerce and Industry or the Ministry of Agriculture had opposed Freeman’s assertion on the alleged ban. He had made the statement on August 7, 2023.
It is not clear whether the Movement for Progressive Change’s (MPC) presidential hopeful mistook the Indian ban on the export of non-basmati rice due to concerns about rising domestic food prices and the need to ensure sufficient supplies for its own citizens, as a ban on the parboiled rice that Liberia predominantly imports from that nation.
Bilateral Trade Between Indian and Liberia
Speaking further during the Tuesday late evening dinner, Amb. Yadav disclosed that the bilateral trade between Liberia and India has been growing since the opening of the embassy in Monrovia during the heat of the Covid pandemic. “Bilateral trade between our two countries has also been growing steadily since the opening of the Embassy. Indian exports to Liberia rose from US$ 225.65 million in 2020-21 to 257.15 million in 2022-23. We are not interested in increasing Indian exports alone but we have also been striving to boost Liberian exports to India too, with the result that Liberian exports to India rose from a modest US$ 6.95 million in 2020 to US$ 26.80 million in 2022-23.”
India-Liberia Relationship
“Two years back when I landed in Monrovia during the Covid time, I had a challenging mission to establish the Embassy as early as possible. My colleagues worked hard day and night and I take pride in saying that despite numerous challenges, we now have a fully-functional Embassy with Passport, Visa and other consular services being provided from Monrovia. Passport services commenced in March and Visa services in June, 2023.
“India and Liberia not only share decades old very warm and cordial relations but many other aspects too. Our Prime Minister believes in ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’- Everyone together for Everyone’s progress. HE the President of Liberia also has a vision – ‘Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development’ for the upliftment of the under-privileged. Our Prime Minister says – ‘Beti Bachao – Beti Padao’ – Save the Daughter – Educate the Daughter. HE the President of Liberia also has the cause of women and girls close to his heart and is widely known as the ‘Feminist-in-Chief’. Liberia gave to itself and Africa the first woman President in 2006, India also got its first woman President in 2007 and the present President of India is also a woman.
“India and Liberia also share strong democratic credentials and tradition of free and fair elections. India is the Mother of Democracy and the largest democracy in the world. Our democratic values have been an inspiration for the world to emulate. Liberia, too, has set example for other counties especially in Africa with its strong democratic traditions. I am confident that free, fair and peaceful elections will be conducted by Liberia in October.”
Ambassador Yadav further stated that his embassy has been working closely with the friendly Government of Liberia under the able leadership of President George Manneh Weah, and Mr. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr., Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet.
He also that visits from both sides are going on, notable being the two visits of the Liberian Deputy Minister of Defense for Operations to India in less than a year.
“We have provided numerous fully-paid scholarships to Liberian students, teachers and Government officials including from the Armed Forces of Liberia. Today itself 2 students have landed in India for under-graduate courses in prestigious Delhi University on ICCR’s Africa Scholarship Scheme. I take pride in saying that since the opening of the Embassy in Monrovia, the Incredible India has emerged as a preferred destination for higher education and medical treatment among our Liberian friends.”
