Strengthening relations between India and Guadeloupe was one of the objectives of the visit of His Excellency Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to France.

Visas that facilitate trade

The meeting marked the beginning of cultural and commercial strengthening between the South Asian country and the Guadeloupe archipelago. It was in this context that the ambassador announced the extension of OCI (foreign nationals of India) cards to Guadeloupe and Martinique. This residency program allows members of the Indian diaspora who hold a foreign passport to have a lifetime multiple entry visa to visit, live and work in India. For Jawed Ashraf, this expansion is important:

The importance of the Indian population in Guadeloupe made us want to strengthen ties between their home countries, both through consular services, but also through their emotional connection to India. Again, it is part of our responsibility, our duty to visit various members of the Indian diaspora, to visit Guadeloupe.

Reconnect with India

This extension is the result of several months of hard work between the French government, elected officials from Guadeloupe and India. Several Indo-Guadeloupean associations worked to set up this program, as Olivier Ramaye, president of GOPIO Guadeloupe, recalled:

There are a number of figures and associations from the indocultural world who have worked. So, I just have to applaud the work they do. We made a number of requests to emphasize that this map is not just a piece of paper. It is still a burden of history that we have to put down in such a way that we have to know how to justify what we carry within us and we convey an ancient culture even though we are only 170 years old. And this does not call into question the existence of our Guadeloupe.

His Excellency Jawed Ashraf was also able to meet with indigenous people at Habitation Zevallos in Moule in the presence of many elected officials. Relive this moment on video.