Monrovia — Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., Liberia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been successful in his negotiations with the Indian government to begin issuing visas in Liberia. These negotiations took place through the Embassy of India in Liberia. A significant weight has been lifted off the shoulders of the people of Liberia as a result of this action.
Before this decision was made, India only issued official visas in Liberia, while all other visas were issued in the neighboring Ivory Coast. Traveling to Ivory Coast for visas placed additional financial burdens on and travel inconveniences to individuals, particularly those who were seeking medical attention in India.
Some observers have praised Minister Kemayah for his efforts, citing the success as a larger milestone accomplishment that will, in their opinion, significantly ease financial and travel burdens and improve Liberia's economy. In a happy mood, Minister Kemayah stated that providing relief to the people of Liberia through public service makes him happy, underlining that "this is what President Weah wants us to continue doing."
The gain, according to the Liberian Foreign Minister, is consistent with the reform initiatives he is carrying on at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Of Liberia Numerous prominent people, both domestically and internationally, have expressed their admiration for and recognition of Minister Kemayah's reform agenda, including the American Ambassador, who recently said that the reform drive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is deserving of praise.
The Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) would gain more importance as a result of this new development, which would provide enormous economic benefits to Liberians.
This is taken into account in light of the recent inflow of Liberians seeking medical care, trade, commerce, and/or education in India.
The Indian Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Amb. Pradip Kumar Yadav, disclosed that the Government of the Republic of India, through its Embassy in Monrovia, has begun the issuance of visas to Liberians and other foreign residents in Liberia.
The Indian Ambassador made the disclosure on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, when he paid a courtesy call on Liberian Foreign Minister H. E. Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., at his Foreign Ministry office on Capitol Hill.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, the meeting took place in the Minister's Conference Room on the fourth floor of the Ministry, on Capitol Hill.
The Indian Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency Pradip Kumar Yadav thanked Foreign Minister Kemayah and the Government and People of Liberia for the warm reception accorded him and hailed the excellent bilateral relations and cooperation subsisting between Liberia and the Republic of India.
He added that the request by the Government of Liberia regarding the issuance of Visas in Monrovia has been granted by the Government of the Republic of India.
The Indian Envoy therefore used the occasion to admonish Liberians and foreign residents wishing to travel to India to take advantage of the opportunity and apply in person or online through the Indian Embassy near Monrovia.
"I am very happy for Liberia and India relations because Liberians and other residents in Liberia can now apply for visas online, which is very cheap and the process is easier than physically coming to the embassy", H.E. Amb. Pradip Kumar Yadav intoned.
The Indian Ambassador to Liberia further recounted that during his engagement with Liberia through its Foreign Minister, H. E. Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, the two governments discussed various items of bilateral cooperation with mutual interest, including cooperation in various sectors such as capacity building in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, and other line ministries and agencies.
"One important thing I would like to bring to your attention is that we have been planning to hold visa services through our Embassy here in Monrovia, which was delayed due to other engagements. However, with the support and kind cooperation of His Excellency Foreign Minister Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., we were able to start the visa services for Liberians and other nationals here in Liberia," the Indian ambassador stated further.
Amb. Yadav also intoned that any applicant who desires to travel to India for medical treatment, business purposes, or any other trip can apply online with lower fees, adding that "the process is easier than physically coming to the Embassy.
"The whole procedure of obtaining a visa is online, and so the applicant has to come in person and do biometrics." We will try our best to provide the best visa services to Liberians and other nationalities. For example, if someone applies for a visa on the first of July, he will be issued the visa on the fourth of July", he disclosed.
For his part, Foreign Minister His Excellency Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah expressed deep gratitude and appreciation to the people of India for their excellent cooperation with Liberia and applauded the Indian government for its support and decision to commence the issuance of visas in Liberia.
Minister Kemayah added that with the opening of a diplomatic mission near Monrovia and a residence Ambassador in the country, India and Liberia have now deepened their cooperation in other productive areas of engagement.
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The Foreign Minister assured the Indian Envoy of the Foreign Ministry's unflinching support that will facilitate and enhance the conclusion of renewed bilateral cooperation between the two sisterly countries.
He said Liberia looks forward to the provision of scholarship and training opportunities for Liberians at a new level of engagement with India.
"With your level of engagement with our development agenda, we are very pleased with our relations with India," Minister Kemayah stressed.
Minister Kemayah particularly hailed India for its support for Africa to join the G20, noting that this is very much laudable on the part of India: "We know you have been very supportive when it comes to Africa, on several bilateral and Multilateral issues"
Minister Kemayah, therefore, commended Amb. Pradip Kumar Yadav for the pivotal role played in cementing the cooperation between Liberia and India, which led to the development assistance provided by India to Liberia.
"We are grateful to you and want to say on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that our new level of partnership with the Indian Embassy will be strengthened and ease the pressure from our people who are desirous of traveling to India for business or medical reasons,", Minister Kemayah said.
