You are India's cultural ambassadors: VP to Indian community in Botswana

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday interacted with the Indian community in Botswana's Gaborone town and called them "India's cultural ambassadors."

"You have ventured out into the global arena and made a mark. I would suggest that you should also look at how you can contribute to the exciting growth story unfolding in India today," the Vice President said.

"You are India's cultural ambassadors and the world sees you as the representatives of Indian values and way of life," he added.

Earlier on Thursday, India and Botswana strongly condemned terrorism and agreed to take determined and credible steps to eradicate the global menace.

The Vice Presidents of both the countries "unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed the importance of international efforts to prevent and fight the scourge of terrorism", according to an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of the agreement on the exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports.

Botswana Vice President Slumber Tsogwane appreciated India's vision of Africa and developmental cooperation with the continent which covers a wide range of sectors, including health, infrastructure development, capacity building, Defence, mining, agriculture, trade, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and energy, the statement added.

After Botswana, Naidu will today visit Zimbabwe, where he will meet with the Foreign Minister and lay the foundation stone of the Chancery project. He will witness the signing of several Memorandums of Understandings (MoU) and will announce LoC projects.

Later on, Naidu will travel to Malawi, where he will stay from November 4 to 5. Vice President Naidu is expected to inaugurate the Business Incubation Center, India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development. Several MoUs and agreements will be signed and announcements including LoC projects are also expected to be made.