AMRITSAR: A sixteen member delegation of Latin American and Caribbean Ambassadors including Wednesday paid obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.

They included Mr. & Mrs. Ernesto Carlos Alvarez, Ambassador of Argentina,  Mr. & Mrs. Miguel Angel Ramirez, Ambassador of Cuba,  Ricardo Leon, Charge De Affairs(CDA) of Chile,  Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Abad, Ambassador of Ecuador, Mr. & Mrs. J.Ronald Gajraj, High Commissioner of Guyana, Mr. & Mrs. Rogelio Granguillhome, Ambassador of Mexico,  Minister Genaro Pappalardo, CDA of Paraguay, Carlos Alberto Yrigoyen, CDA of Peru,  Hans Dannenberg, Ambassador of Dominican Republic,  Milena Santana Ramirez, Ambassador of Venezuela.

Bikram Singh Majitha, Information and Public Relations Minister,Punjab, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD Minister, Punjab and Harbhajan singh, Manager, Sri Darbar Sahib jointly honored the members
of the delegation by presenting a siropa,  a religious book and a portrait of Sri Darbar Sahib.

Talking to media persons,  Ernesto Carlos Alvarez, Ambassador of Argentina in India said, "On behalf of Latin American and Caribbean countries, this visit shall mark the beginning of a new age in the relationship between India and all of us". This visit is a beginning of series of exchange programmes between India
and Latin America  as well as Caribbean countries. Revealing the motive behind their visit, she said that their aim is primarily to create a forum for bilateral relations and enhance the contacts.

They would undertake a visit to the historical and religious places of Punjab so as to get a glimpse of Punjabi culture and would visit the Punjab Agriculture University to get the first hand information about the agro-based economy of the State. They would later meet. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab at Chandigarh and explore the possibilities of enhancing relationship between Punjab and their countries.

Bikram Singh Majithia, Information and Public Relations Minister, Punjab who escorted the delegation during their sojourn to Amritsar said that the thrust of all developing economies is generally on increasing trade relations with Europe, Canada and American countries but it is the farsightedness of  Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, Punjab that he comprehended the scope of increasing trade and tourism through trade with countries having similar agro-based economies like the Latin Amercian and Caribbean countries. This   visit will soon usher a multifaceted economic interaction with these countries, broaden our economic horizons, and
diversify our trade.

Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD Minister, Punjab who also escorted the delegation said that this exchange initiative will definitely put a meaningful input to our economy. Increased trade relations and exchange programmes will strengthen the political relations on one hand and generate employment opportunities on the other hand.

Earlier, today on behalf of Government of Punjab Majitha and Parminder Singh  Dhindsa received the Latin Americian and Caribbean delegation at Amritsar Railway Station where they were accorded a warm, traditional welcome with Tilak Abishak and floral garlanding . Kahan Singh Pannu, Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh S.S.P, Amritsar were also present on the occasion. The Cabinet ministers later accompanied them during their visit to Jallianwala Bagh and Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. The delegation later witnessed the Beating Retreat Ceremony at Attari Border.