Barcelona strengthens its relations with India. The city will have a consulate general of this country this year, as announced by the Indian ambassador to Spain, Dinesh Patnaik, in a meeting held on Wednesday with mayor Jaume Collboni. The intention is for it to be operational in the second half of 2024, after the legislative elections in that country have been held.
For Collboni, its openness "will be key to promoting economic and cultural relations" between both parties, with the possibility of reaching agreements on economic, business, technological or cultural matters. We must not forget that the population of Indian origin is the fourth largest Asian community in Barcelona.
Municipal sources detailed today that with the opening of this diplomatic mission the consulate will go from being honorary, which it has been since 1968, to being a general consulate. It will also have a career diplomat from the country of origin, as well as more skills and services to serve its fellow citizens.
The meeting between Collboni and the Indian ambassador was preceded by an institutional table with the aim of improving Barcelona's positioning in India and promoting joint projects with the Asian country.
Barcelona currently hosts 96 consulates, making it the fourth city in the world that is not a state capital with the largest consular representation, after Hong Kong, New York and Hamburg.
