President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, arrived in Conakry, Guinea, on 1 August 2019, marking the final leg of his three-nation visit to Benin, The Gambia, and Guinea. He became the first Indian Head of State/Head of Government to visit Guinea. On arrival at Conakry Airport, he was received by President Prof. Alpha Condé and accorded a ceremonial welcome.
Bilateral Meetings
On 2 August 2019, President Kovind held bilateral talks with President Alpha Condé. During the discussions, both leaders reviewed and strengthened India–Guinea relations.
President Kovind stated that India is keen to upgrade political and diplomatic engagement with Guinea. He also highlighted that India opened its Embassy in Conakry in January 2019 to further deepen bilateral ties.
Delegation-level talks were also held between the two sides.
Key Areas of Cooperation
India reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Guinea’s National Development Plan, with assistance in sectors including:
- Energy
- Health
- Transportation
India has extended financial support for several development projects, including regional hospital initiatives. A new Line of Credit of USD 170 million has been provided for the Conakry Water Supply Project.
Trade and Investment
The President noted that India is among Guinea’s key trading partners. He emphasized that India’s economic growth and Guinea’s natural resources complement each other, and highlighted growing interest from Indian companies in sectors such as:
- Mining
- Infrastructure
- Healthcare
- Pharmaceuticals
Global and Strategic Cooperation
Both leaders discussed strengthening cooperation on global issues, including:
- Peace and security in West Africa
- Counter-terrorism efforts
- Reformed multilateralism
- UN Security Council reforms
President Alpha Condé expressed support for India’s candidature as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2021–2022.
Agreements Signed
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged, including cooperation in:
- Traditional medicine and homeopathy
- e-VBAB Network Project (digital education initiative)
- Renewable energy
Official Banquet
Later in the evening, President Kovind was scheduled to attend a banquet hosted in his honour by the President of Guinea.
