The OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, visited the Republic of India, 2–5 September 2015, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of India. During his visit, the Director-General met with the Foreign Secretary, Dr. S Jaishankar; Cabinet Secretary, Mr Pradeep Kumar Sinha; and other senior officials. Ambassador Üzümcü also met with Dr. Gurdial Singh Sandhu, the Chairman of the National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention.
In his meetings, Ambassador Üzümcü acknowledged India’s high level of commitment to the chemical weapons disarmament regime and further noted the Government of India’s valuable contribution to OPCW training and assistance activities aimed at enhancing international cooperation and capacity-building mechanisms. The Director-General updated senior officials on progress made mission to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons programme and discussed ways of further enhancing cooperation between the Organisation and India.
The Director-General gave a speech [PDF – 76 KB] at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, which was attended by diplomats, senior government officials and experts on security and disarmament. In his remarks, the Director-General noted that India is an integral partner in the mission to achieve a world free from chemical weapons. Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü also delivered a lecture to faculty, students and scientists at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai. The Director-General emphasized the critical role that science and technology must play in disarmament and preventing the re-emergence of chemical weapons.
In addition, the Director-General also engaged in dialogue [PDF – 76 KB] with representatives of the Indian chemical industry in Mumbai. In wide-ranging and informed exchanges, Ambassador Üzümcü noted the growth of India’s chemical industry and the importance of ensuring robust safety and security practices across the sector.