External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with members of the Indian community in Côte d’Ivoire and spoke about India’s transformation, global partnerships and diplomatic priorities under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The interaction took place during Jaishankar's official visit to Côte d’Ivoire from October 7 to 8, 2026. Jaishankar shared details of the engagement in a post on X on October 8. ANI also reported the interaction, confirming the timing and key points raised by the External Affairs Minister.
Jaishankar’s 25 years of public service.
During his meeting with the Indian diaspora, Jaishankar talked about the changes India has experienced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and how India changed under his leadership. Modi’s public service experience of 25 years has been a model that has continued to influence India’s view of public service and governance both domestically and internationally, he said.
Jaishankar linked this experience to the Indian leadership’s capacity to respond to challenges and build stronger partnerships globally.
Energy and Fertiliser Security.
Jaishankar highlighted energy security as one of the key areas of focus. India is trying to diversify its energy supply at a time when global markets are uncertain about energy security, he said.
He also pointed out efforts to secure fertiliser supplies by building and maintaining close partnerships with other countries. These issues are particularly important for India because energy and fertiliser availability directly impact the wider economy and agriculture sector.
Passport services and faster Disaster Response
Jaishankar also spoke of improving the ease of living for citizens. He mentioned India’s progress in passport services as an example of how government systems have changed to meet public needs.
He also highlighted India’s quick response to natural disasters and the evacuation of Indian nationals fleeing difficult situations abroad. Jaishankar said that a better understanding of government systems has helped India respond more quickly in these cases.
India’s involvement in BRICS and G20.
The External Affairs Minister also discussed India’s diplomatic experience during its presidencies of BRICS and the G20.
He said India was working towards consensus through relationships, dialogue and a deeper understanding of other countries. Jaishankar also stressed India’s efforts during its G20 presidency in helping the African Union to join the G20 as a way of turning diplomatic commitments into concrete action.
Indian Diaspora as a Bridge
Jaishankar praised Indians living abroad and claimed that the diaspora is a bridge between India and other cultures.
His visit to the community came as India and Côte d’Ivoire are strengthening bilateral ties in areas including trade, investment, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, defence and capacity building. The Ivorian Foreign Ministry said the visit was intended to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
