India has restored its diplomatic representation in Lesotho with the appointment of Dr Biju Abraham Korah as the country’s new Honorary Consul, ending a six-year vacancy and signaling renewed efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people relations.
Dr Korah was officially inaugurated in Maseru on Friday during a ceremony attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Limpho Tau, India’s High Commissioner to Lesotho and South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials and business leaders.
The position had remained vacant since the death of former Honorary Consul, Man Mohan Bakaya, who served from 2014 until 2020.
Speaking at the inauguration, Tau described the appointment as the beginning of a new chapter in the long-standing friendship between Lesotho and India, whose diplomatic relations date back to 1971.
“It is a great pleasure and honour for me to join you this evening on the special occasion of inaugurating Dr Biju Abraham Korah as the new Honorary Consul of the Republic of India to the Kingdom of Lesotho,” Tau said.
He said Lesotho highly values its bilateral relationship with India, noting that cooperation has expanded beyond diplomacy to include education, healthcare, agriculture, information technology, skills development and capacity building.
“The relationship between our two countries continues to grow from strength to strength because it is built on mutual trust and shared aspirations for development,” he said.
Tau also highlighted India’s contribution to Lesotho’s human capital development through scholarships and professional training programmes that have benefited many Basotho students and civil servants.
He expressed confidence that Dr Korah’s appointment would unlock fresh opportunities in trade, tourism, investment and cultural cooperation.
“The Government of Lesotho is confident that under your stewardship, Dr Korah, relations between our two countries will continue to flourish for the mutual benefit of our peoples,” Tau added.
India’s High Commissioner, Prabhat Kumar, said the appointment restores an important diplomatic office that had remained vacant for six years.
“We once again have an Honorary Consul after six years, and we believe Dr Korah will serve as an important bridge between our two countries and help unlock new opportunities for cooperation,” Kumar said.
He noted that Honorary Consuls play a vital role in promoting commercial relations, assisting citizens, facilitating official visits and encouraging cultural exchanges.
Kumar also welcomed the opening of Lesotho’s embassy in New Delhi, describing it as a demonstration of both countries’ commitment to strengthening diplomatic engagement.
Accepting the appointment, Dr Korah thanked the Government of India for the confidence placed in him.
“I am deeply humbled by this appointment and the responsibility that comes with representing the interests of India in Lesotho,” he said.
He pledged to strengthen economic cooperation by promoting investment, expanding trade and facilitating partnerships between businesses in Lesotho and India.
Dr Korah identified manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, technology and healthcare as sectors offering significant potential for collaboration.
“There is enormous potential for both countries to work together in areas that create jobs, stimulate economic growth and improve livelihoods,” he said.
He also committed to promoting tourism and strengthening educational ties by encouraging more Basotho students to take advantage of scholarship opportunities offered by the Indian government.
In addition, Dr Korah pledged to foster cultural exchanges through sporting activities, business forums, academic partnerships and arts programmes.
“Diplomacy is ultimately about people. It is about building friendships, understanding different cultures and creating opportunities that improve lives,” he said.
The restoration of the Honorary Consul’s office is expected to enhance communication between institutions in both countries while providing local representation for India’s diplomatic and commercial interests in Lesotho.
India remains one of Lesotho’s key development partners through technical assistance programmes, professional training initiatives and scholarship schemes. Hundreds of Basotho have benefited from the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and other educational opportunities in engineering, medicine, agriculture, information technology and public administration.
Business leaders attending the ceremony welcomed the appointment, saying stronger economic cooperation could open new opportunities in manufacturing, technology transfer, agriculture and infrastructure development.
Summary
- India has restored its diplomatic representation in Lesotho with the appointment of Dr Biju Abraham Korah as the country’s new Honorary Consul, ending a six-year vacancy and signaling renewed efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people relations.
- Dr Korah was officially inaugurated in Maseru on Friday during a ceremony attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Limpho Tau, India’s High Commissioner to Lesotho and South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials and business leaders.
- “It is a great pleasure and honour for me to join you this evening on the special occasion of inaugurating Dr Biju Abraham Korah as the new Honorary Consul of the Republic of India to the Kingdom of Lesotho,” Tau said.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
