• Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar hailed the opening of the embassy of Honduras in New Delhi as a significant milestone in bilateral relations, marking a new chapter in the long-standing friendship between the two nations. 

• Jaishankar highlighted the $310 million bilateral trade, with India exporting pharmaceuticals, textiles, and automobiles, while importing coffee, wood, and leather from Honduras. 

• He identified agribusiness, renewable energy, healthcare, and IT as sectors with untapped potential for collaboration.

• The two nations agreed to enhance business-to-business linkages and explore investment opportunities.

• Jaishankar specifically noted Honduras’ strategic location and favorable investment climate, particularly in renewable energy and IT services. 

India-Honduras Relations

• India and Honduras enjoy cordial and friendly relations.

• Honduras has been consistently supporting India at the multilateral stage over the years.

Bilateral Agreements:

i) Agreement for extending a Line of Credit worth $30 million between the government of Honduras and the EXIM Bank of India signed in August 2006.

ii) MoU for setting up an IT Center in Tegucigalpa signed in January 2008.

iii) Agreement on waiver of visas for diplomatic and official passports in June 2008.

iv) MoU on Foreign Office Consultations was signed during the second India-SICA Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Delhi in June 2008.

• Pharmaceuticals, textiles (especially cotton yarn and fibres), chemicals, engineering products, two and three wheelers, motor vehicles/cars, auto components and parts, iron and steel, industrial machinery and parts, electrical machinery and equipment are exported to Honduras.

• In 2014, India approved a $26.5 million Line of Credit for Jamastran River Valley Irrigation Project. The project is estimated to irrigate 3,060 hectares of land and benefit about 1,200 farmers.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)