Agreements signed during the visit of Vice President of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Raquel Peña

New Delhi- The official visit of Her Excellency Raquel Peña, the Vice President of the Dominican Republic, proved highly successful as it culminated in the formalization of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on pharmaceutical cooperation, ocean sciences and higher education with a focus on science and technology.

The MoU on ‘Cooperation in the Field of Medical Products Regulation’ was signed between Central Drug Control Organization of India (CDSCO) and the General Directorate of Medicines, Food, and Health Products of the Dominican Republic (DIGEMAPS). H.E. Ambassador Ramu Abbagani, Ambassador to India in the Dominican Republic singed on behalf of CDSCO, and H.E. José Julio Gómez, Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic signed on behalf of DIGEMAPS. The focus of the MOU is to facilitate a constructive dialogue on the laws and regulations pertinent to medical products.

To keep in mind the growing importance of the oceanic diplomacy and marine research, an MoU on ‘Scientific Cooperation in Ocean Sciences’ was signed between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Institute of Oceanography of India (CSIR-NIO) and the National Authority for Maritime Affairs of the Dominican Republic (ANAMAR).  Dr. (Mrs.) N. Kalaiselvi signed on behalf of CSIR-NIO and H.E. José Julio Gómez, Vice Minister of Bilateral Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, and on behalf of ANAMAR.  This agreement aims to establish a framework for cooperation for the promotion and support of scientific and technological cooperation between both parties.

During the visit of H.E. Raquel Peña to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Delhi, an agreement on ‘Special Educational Cooperation’ was signed between IIT-Delhi and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Dominican Republic (MESCYT). This MOU grants scholarships sponsored by the Dominican government for the training of five Dominican students, in programs that lead to obtaining the academic degrees of master’s or doctorates at IIT-Delhi, within the framework of the National Scholarship System of the Dominican Republic.

All three agreements were signed in the presence of H.E. Raquel Peña, Vice president of the Dominican Republic. While India and the Dominican Republic enter the 25 years of their diplomatic relations, these agreements demonstrate how both countries are working closely together to continue to strengthen their friendship and open doors for new collaborations.