President Murmu conferred with Suriname's highest civilian award

PARAMARIBO: President Droupadi Murmu has been conferred with Suriname's highest civilian award by her counterpart Chandrikapersad Santokhi to honour the deep-rooted bilateral ties.

Murmu arrived in Suriname on Sunday on a three-day state visit - her first since assuming office in July last year.

She was conferred with the highest civilian honour of Suriname ‘Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star' by the President of Suriname at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace here, her office said in a statement in New Delhi.

In her acceptance remarks, she thanked President Santokhi and the Government of Suriname for bestowing upon her this honour.

President Murmu said she was greatly honoured to receive Suriname's highest distinction.

She said that this recognition holds immense significance, not only for her but also for the more than 1.4 billion people of India. She dedicated the honour to the successive generations of the Indian-Surinamese community, who have played a stellar role in enriching the fraternal ties between the two countries.

"An honour reflective of the deep-rooted India-Suriname ties! President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn conferred with the 'Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star', the highest civilian award of Suriname by President @CSantokhi," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the President on receiving the award.

"Congratulations to Rashtrapati Ji on being conferred the highest civilian award of Suriname - Grand Order of the Chain of the Yellow Star. This special gesture from the Government and the people of Suriname symbolises the enduring friendship between our countries," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Despite her many official engagements, President Murmu spent some time with a group of children who came to greet her in Paramaribo. She offered them India-made chocolates.

President also visited ‘Marinetrap' where she witnessed the simulation and welcoming of the arrival of the First Indians in Suriname. She also inaugurated the simulated village at Independence Square.

On Monday, President Murmu met her Surinamese counterpart Chandrikapersad Santokhi and later led delegation-level talks between the two sides. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that she was happy to be in Suriname on her first State Visit as President of India when it is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname.

She said that deep historical and cultural ties provide the foundation for the India-Suriname multifaceted and modern partnership.

The President noted that bilateral trade between the two countries is well below potential. She said that there is a need to work together to expand bilateral trade for mutual benefit. She expressed confidence that the agreements signed during the visit would help boost the trade and economic ties. She said that there is scope for further collaboration in sectors like pharmaceuticals, Ayurveda, agriculture and defence, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a press release.

The President said that India is committed to enhancing technical cooperation and contributing to the capacity-building and skill development of Suriname's human resources as per the country's requirements. The two countries also signed three MoUs to enhance bilateral cooperation.