…as Korah pledges to deepen Lesotho ties
Bokang Mofoka
AFTER a six-year vacancy, India has restored its diplomatic representation in Lesotho with the appointment of Dr Biju Abraham Korah as the country’s new Honorary Consul, a move expected to strengthen trade, investment and people-to-people relations between the two nations.
Dr Korah was officially inaugurated in Maseru on Friday during a ceremony attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Limpho Tau, India’s High Commissioner to Lesotho and South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders and government officials.
The position became vacant following the death of former Honorary Consul, Man Mohan Bakaya, who served from 2014 to 2020.
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Tau described the appointment as a new chapter in the long-standing friendship between Lesotho and India, whose diplomatic relations date back to 1971.
“It is a great pleasure and honour for me to join you this evening on the special occasion of inaugurating Dr Biju Abraham Korah as the new Honorary Consul of the Republic of India to the Kingdom of Lesotho,” Mr Tau said.
He said Lesotho highly values its bilateral relations with India, noting that cooperation has expanded beyond diplomacy to include education, healthcare, agriculture, information technology, skills development and capacity building.
“The relationship between our two countries continues to grow from strength to strength because it is built on mutual trust and shared aspirations for development,” he said.
Mr Tau also highlighted India’s contribution to human capital development through scholarships and professional training opportunities that have benefited many Basotho students and civil servants.
He expressed confidence that Dr Korah’s appointment would create new opportunities in trade, tourism, culture and investment.
“The Government of Lesotho is confident that under your stewardship, Dr Korah, relations between our two countries will continue to flourish for the mutual benefit of our peoples,” he said.
For his part, Mr Kumar said the appointment restores an important diplomatic office that had remained vacant for six years.
“We once again have an Honorary Consul after six years, and we believe Dr Korah will serve as an important bridge between our two countries and help unlock new opportunities for cooperation,” he said.
Mr Kumar noted that Honorary Consuls play a critical role in promoting commercial links, assisting citizens, supporting official visits and encouraging cultural exchanges.
He added that the opening of Lesotho’s embassy in New Delhi reflects the commitment of both countries to deepen diplomatic engagement.
Accepting the appointment, Dr Korah thanked the Government of India for entrusting him with what he described as a great honour and responsibility.
“I am deeply humbled by this appointment and the responsibility that comes with representing the interests of India in Lesotho,” he said.
Dr Korah pledged to strengthen economic cooperation by encouraging investment, expanding trade and facilitating partnerships between businesses in Lesotho and India.
He identified manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, technology and healthcare as key sectors with significant potential for collaboration.
“There is enormous potential for both countries to work together in areas that create jobs, stimulate economic growth and improve livelihoods,” he said.
Dr Korah also committed to promoting tourism and strengthening educational ties by encouraging more Basotho students to take advantage of scholarships offered by the Indian government.
He further pledged to enhance cultural exchanges through sporting activities, business forums, academic partnerships and arts programmes.
“Diplomacy is ultimately about people. It is about building friendships, understanding different cultures and creating opportunities that improve lives,” he said.
The restoration of the Honorary Consul’s office is expected to improve communication between institutions in both countries and provide local representation for India’s diplomatic and commercial interests.
India remains one of Lesotho’s key development partners through programmes that provide technical assistance, professional training and scholarships. Hundreds of Basotho have benefited from the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and other scholarship schemes in fields such as engineering, medicine, agriculture, information technology and public administration.
Business leaders attending the ceremony welcomed the appointment, saying stronger economic cooperation could unlock opportunities in manufacturing, technology transfer, agriculture and infrastructure development.
Diplomatic observers also viewed the appointment as a reflection of India’s growing engagement with African countries through partnerships centred on trade, education, healthcare and sustainable development.
As the ceremony concluded, both governments expressed optimism that Dr Korah’s appointment would inject fresh momentum into the cordial relationship between Lesotho and India and deliver tangible benefits for the people of both countries.