New Delhi/Ramallah, July 7 (UNI) Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary MEA, on Friday met Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki and held in-depth talks on wide areas of mutual interest, including development cooperation.

The top MEA official also reviewed the progress of Government of India-funded projects.

The Representative Office of India at Ramallah in tweets said:

“Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, @SecretaryCPVOIA, called on Minister of Foreign Affairs & Expatriates, State of Palestine, H.E. Dr. Riad Malki. In-depth discussions were held on wide areas of mutual interests including development cooperation.”

On his visit to the India-funded projects, it posted:

“Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, @SecretaryCPVOIA, reviewed the progress of GOI-funded projects: India-Palestine Techno Park at Birzeit, Centre for Women Empowerment “Turathi”, & Institute of Diplomacy in Surda.”

Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (CPV and OIA), paid an official visit to Palestine from July 5-7.

During the visit, he called on Prime Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and Diplomatic Advisor to the President Majdi Khaldi.

As part of Government of India’s developmental assistance, Secretary (CPV & OIA) commissioned the National Printing Press of Palestine in Surda and visited the India-Palestine Techno Park in Birzeit, as well as project sites of Centre for Empowerment of Women (Turathi) and the Palestine Diplomatic Institute, a statement said.

Secretary (CPV & OIA) along with Minister of Health Mai Kaileh jointly inaugurated the Artificial Limb Fitment Camp at Abu Rayya Rehabilitation Center, organized by Govt. of India in association with Bhagvan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Jaipur. The camp is expected to benefit about 600 Palestinians.

During the visit, he also interacted with the Palestinian Alumni of Indian Universities under the scholarship scheme of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations. Scholarships and capacity building of Palestinian youth has been an important component of India’s development assistance to Palestine.

More than 12,000 Palestinian students have graduated from Indian Universities over the years, and more than 1,300 Palestinian officials have undergone training under our ITEC programme.

India has been extending various forms of economic assistance to Palestine amounting to approximately US$ 130.5 million, including US$ 70.6 million worth of developmental assistance. India has also provided budgetary support to the tune of US$ 39 million to the Palestinian Authority.

Since 2002, India has contributed a total of US$ 29.53 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The visit of Secretary (CPV & OIA) reaffirmed India’s continued developmental support to the people of Palestine, it said.