Valedictory Session of 1st Special Course on Protocol for Diplomats from Suriname

The 1st Special Course on Protocol for Diplomats from Suriname was held virtually from the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi from 14 September - 25 September 2020. 20 young Surinamese Diplomats participated in this course.

At the valedictory session on 25 September 2020, the valedictory address was delivered by Amb. R. Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of Suriname. The feedback session was chaired by Amb. J.S.Mukul, Dean, SSIFS and Ms. Nilakshi Saha Sinha, Joint Secretary, SSIFS. The session was also attended by Amb. Miriam Mac Intosh, Permanent Secretary Geo-political Affairs and International Development Cooperation from the Surinamese side.  Ambassador of India in Suriname, Mr. Mahender Singh Kanyal, also participated.

This was the first time that SSIFS had conducted a module of training online for foreign diplomats where the participants had attended the sessions from Paramaribo, Suriname and the speakers had delivered the lectures from New Delhi, India.

The Special Course modules covered the entire gamut of Protocol (principles, military and ceremonial aspects, incoming/outgoing visits at different levels, hospitality, press, interpretation, security aspects related to VVIP visits, privileges, immunities, seminars, conferences, diplomatic skills etc.). Besides, there were lectures on India’s Foreign Policy, India’s relations with the Latin American region and Suriname.

India has traditionally enjoyed warm, friendly and cordial relations with Suriname reinforced by cultural and people to people contacts bridged by the Indian Diaspora's arrival 146 years ago. Bilateral relations have been further strengthened during the last few years with the exchange of regular high-level visits.