India-Lesotho Relations Diplomatic Representation 1. Since 1996, the High Commission in Pretoria has been concurrently accredited to Lesotho. Earlier, Lesotho came under the charge of the High Commission in Botswana. Following the visit of Prime Minister Mosisili to India in August 2003, Lesotho opened a resident mission in New Delhi. Mr. Shabir Peerbhai was appointed as Lesotho’s High Commissioner to India. The Foreign Minister of Lesotho visited India to officially inaugurate the mission. Visits 2. The first ever exchange of visits at political level was the highly successful visit of the Prime Minister of Lesotho to India in August 2003. The areas of cooperation prioritised in talks between the two Prime Ministers were employment generation, agricultural development, education, tourism and upgrading of infrastructure, in which India agreed to share its experience in human resource development as well as high technology and industrial areas, in the spirit of South-South cooperation. It was agreed that bilateral commercial relations would be enhanced. To this end, both sides agreed to create better awareness of each other’s strengths within the private sector with more trade missions and participation in exhibitions. India agreed to extend assistance, through training as well as supply of equipment, for establishing manufacturing units in the small scale industries sector. 3. During the visit, both sides agreed to set up a bilateral Joint Commission. The agreement establishing the Joint Commission was signed in March 2004. 4. Commander of Lesotho Defence Forces has visited India twice – in December 1999 and June 2003. Some senior army officers from India have visited Lesotho including a team from the National Defence College in May 2003. 5. Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen J.B.S. Yadava, visited Lesotho from February 1-2, 2004. The main objective of the visit was to review the performance of the Indian Army Training Team (see para 9 below). 6. Secretary, Small Scale, Agro- & Rural Industries Shri B.S. Minhas visited Maseru on September 9, 2004 and signed an inter-Governmental MOU on Promotion and Development of Small Scale Enterprises. 7. In October 2004, a delegation from Lesotho comprising the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Agriculture visited India. The delegation-level talks were led by MOS(RIS) on the Indian side. Discussions covered the whole gamut of bilateral cooperation. In addition, there was a meeting with Secretary(Agriculture). The Agreement outlining the detailed terms and conditions of the credit line of US $ five million promised during the visit of the Prime Minister of Lesotho was signed between the Government of Lesotho and the Export Import Bank of India during the visit. The delegation visited the Kirloskar factory in Pune to identify products which could be imported under this Agreement. 8. Maj. Gen. R.P.S. Malhan, Additional Director General Staff Duties, integrated Headquarter of Ministry of Defence (Army), India visited Lesotho from September 4-6, 2006. He paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Principal Secretary of National Security and Defence and the Commander LDF. Indian Army Training Team 9. The Indian Army Training Team (IATT) stationed in Lesotho since June 2001 has played a significant role in promoting close bilateral ties. Soon after the May 1998 elections the Lesotho Government approached the Indian Government to request for a training team, which could convert the LDF into a professional force, along the lines of the training imparted by the Indian Army to the Botswana Defence Forces. The request was accepted. An Indian Security Advisor has been in position in Lesotho since September 2000. After the signing of an Inter-Governmental Cooperation Agreement on Military Training Cooperation in May 2001, a 15-member Indian Army Training Team (IATT) was sent to Lesotho in June 2001. The team’s achievement towards converting the LDF to a professional, apolitical and citizen-friendly force has been acknowledged and praised by the entire leadership of Lesotho. The team includes a doctor and a surgeon. Indian Assistance in other areas 10. The Lesotho Government has been utilizing the training opportunities provided to them under ITEC/SCAAP Scholarships. Since 1999, over 130 Lesotho nationals have received training in India in diverse fields. 11. During his visit to India, the Prime Minister of Lesotho had underlined that they needed some long-term scholarships to upgrade their professional skill-base. He had mentioned training in medicine, engineering, dentistry, etc. Subsequently, ICCR allocated 5 scholarship slots for Lesotho under the GCSS scheme. During the visit, the Government of India had also offered to donate US$ 50,000 worth of anti-retroviral HIV/AIDS medicine and 5000 tons each of wheat flour and rice to Lesotho. The drugs reached in March 2004 and the food aid (worth US$ 3.26 million) reached Lesotho in June, 2004. 12. A request from Lesotho Government for the supply of complete records of the Indian Supreme Court for reference purposes was met with the help of ICCR. 13. Under a tripartite agreement signed by Government of India and Kingdom of Lesotho, 4 Indian agricultural experts/technicians have been deputed to Lesotho under FAO’s special programme for Food Security in Low Income Food Deficit countries. Trade & Economic Cooperation 14. Indian exports are rising but the value is negligible. Major items are cotton yarns, fabrics & madeups, drugs & pharmaceuticals and rubber manufactured products. Trade data based on DGFT figures, is given below for the last three years: (in US$ million) 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 (April-June, 06) India's exports 5.57 13.41 12.77 1.39 India's imports 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 15. During the visit of the Prime Minister of Lesotho, the Government of India had offered a credit line of US$ 5 million for promoting trade. Most of it has been already utilized for purchase of tractors and irrigation equipment. 16. Negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement, leading to a Free Trade Agreement between India and the South African Customs Union, of which Lesotho is a member, are expected to commence soon. 17. Following contacts during the Prime Ministerial visit, National Small Industries Corporation and Besotho Enterprises Development Corporation have signed a MOU for mutual cooperation for the development of small industries in Lesotho. This envisages strengthening the capacity of BEDCO for development sustenance and growth of small enterprises in Lesotho, facilitating transfer of technologies from India to Lesotho, assistance in setting up a Common Facility-cum-Training Center to meet the skill and technology needs of small enterprises in Lesotho and facilitating enterprise-to-enterprise contacts with a view to promote Indian investment and industrial partnerships in Lesotho. An MOU on Agriculture was signed on September 10, 2004. Subsequently, an Indian Expert was deputed to advise the Director of the Lesotho College of Agriculture and render assistance for drawing up an irrigation master plan. The Indian Ministry of Textiles sent a team of experts to assess Lesotho’s training needs in the textile sector. Indian Community 18. There are about 1500 Indian expatriates in Lesotho working as teachers, accountants and other professionals. Some of them are engaged in business as well. The community has a reasonably high economic profile in the country. There is an Indian Association, which has helped the High Commission organise well-attended cultural performances by troupes sent by ICCR from time to time.