Indian Minister to Attend Ibero-American Conference in Spain

New Delhi, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : On November 3, Pabitra Margherita, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, will commence a three-day official visit to Spain. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced this trip in a recent statement. During her visit, Margherita will participate in the 30th Ibero-American Conference, where India will serve as an "Associate Observer." This significant event includes representatives from 22 member countries, comprising 19 from Latin America and three from Europe: Spain, Portugal, and Andorra.Additionally, there will be 12 associate observers and 20 consultative observers present. This trip is a key moment in the ongoing celebrations of the "Year of Culture, Tourism, and Artificial Intelligence" between India and Spain. While at the summit, Margherita plans to hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts and engage with the Indian diaspora in Madrid. India and Spain have maintained diplomatic relations since 1956, marking 70 years in 2026. In recognition of this milestone, both nations declared 2026 as the "Year of Culture, Tourism, and AI." Spanish President Pedro Sánchez visited New Delhi to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Their bilateral discussions focused on enhancing India-Spain relations, particularly in defense, security, technology, and other sectors. In terms of trade, Spain ranks as India's sixth-largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade reaching $9.9 billion in 2023. Over 250 Spanish companies operate in India, and both nations collaborate on defense modernization, aerospace, naval technology, and counter-terrorism initiatives. The Indian community in Spain numbers around 75,000.To strengthen diplomatic ties, India opened a new consulate in Barcelona in August 2024. According to the MEA's official website, a chair for Hindi and Indian studies has been established at the University of Valladolid in Spain, and International Yoga Day is celebrated annually in several Spanish cities.