Bridging Bolivia, India distance

Smita Sharma

In Cochambamba in the heart of Bolivia in South America, ceramic pots with ancient Vedic inscriptions have been discovered. This and many such civilisational and cultural links is what Bolivian Ambassador- designate, at 37 the youngest envoy to be appointed by his country, hopes to focus on during his stint in India. 

Expected to present his credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind this month, Sergio Dario Arispe Barrientos has already travelled to Chennai, Mumbai, Jaipur and Agra and feels Uttarakhand reminds him of his landlocked country and the Andean mountain region. A fan of history and a foodie, he is no stranger to Indian spices. “I was raised in Washington DC. There is a huge Indian diaspora. I was introduced to Indian food and am quite a fan. India still has genuine nature, not monotonous. Holding on to your culinary art and culture is important. Peru has made a deal to make culinary arts a chic movement,” he says.

In Hyderabad five years ago on his first India visit, he explored the street food which he thinks is crucial to understand any country. During a monthlong stay in the city then for a UN-led multilateral negotiation on 

biodiversity, he observed differences in developing and developed world approaches. “India provides a good basis for multilateral negotiations by allowing space to developing countries. It is unlike methodologies in developed countries, which go top to bottom.”

Bridging the distance between India and Bolivia is what he intends to do given the embassy was established here only in 2012. He reminds China is expanding its footprint in Latin America. With Bolivian Foreign Minister expected to visit India soon to prepare ground for the President’s visit, Barrientos feels a Narendra Modi visit to the region will be a pleasant surprise. “Dynamics of interacting between India and Latin American countries are not occurring fast enough, except with Brazil and Mexico, which are G20 countries.China is aggressively tackling Latin American countries. We expect India to do the same.” he adds. 

With the largest lithium reserves in the world, the envoy says Bolivia can partner with India in its electric vehicle park projects. He plans to woo Indian private industry, but Jindal row has cast a shadow with Jindal Steel pulling out of a 21 billion USD iron ore project in 2012 following contract disputes and delays. 

“Bolivia has 100 per cent conciliation record. All countries have had some conciliatory process with some private sector company. I believe the Jindal issue is close to being resolved.” The Ambassador-designate  hopes to promote the pristine beauty of his country to Indian tourists and travellers who love exploring the unseen.