The reception was attended by Yogeshwar Sangwan, Ambassador of India to Lao PDR, along with alumni of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), representatives of the business community, and members of the Indian community in Lao PDR.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Pabitra Margherita expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Lao PDR, highlighting the community’s important role in strengthening the close and friendly relations between India and Laos.

He praised the Indian community for its contribution to bilateral ties, describing it as an invaluable “living bridge” between the two countries. He noted that the community’s continued engagement has helped promote mutual understanding, goodwill and stronger people-to-people connections.

The Minister of State also highlighted the importance of India’s capacity-building partnerships with Lao PDR, noting their contribution to the country’s development journey and to the further strengthening of people-to-people relations between the two nations.

He particularly recognised the contributions of ITEC and ICCR alumni, describing them as strong pillars of India-Laos friendship. Through their professional and community engagement, the alumni continue to foster deeper civilisational connections, goodwill and mutual trust between India and Lao PDR.

The reception provided an opportunity for the Minister of State to engage with members of the Indian community, programme alumni and representatives of the business sector, while reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding and multifaceted partnership with Lao PDR.

India and Laos have maintained close relations based on mutual respect, historical and cultural links, and growing cooperation across areas including capacity building, trade, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

KPL