India prioritises engaging Lusophone world to tap potential

Source: The post is based on the article “India prioritises engaging Lusophone world to tap potential” published in Indian Express on 6th December 2022

What is the News?

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Government of Goa is organizing the International Lusophone Festival in Goa.

What is the Lusophone world?

Lusophones are peoples that speak Portuguese as a native or as a common second language and nations where Portuguese features prominently in society.

The Lusophone world is spread over nine countries across four continents and Portuguese is the most widely-spoken language in the Southern Hemisphere.

What is the Community of Portuguese Language Countries(CPLP)?

CPLP is also known as the Lusophone Commonwealth (Comunidade Lusofona).

Founded in: It is a multilateral forum, founded in 1996 at the 1st CPLP Heads of State & Government Summit in Lisbon. 

Members: The founding members were Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and Sao Tome e Principe; while Timor Leste and Equatorial Guinea joined later. 

– These 9 Lusophone countries comprise approximately 300 million people on 4 different continents (Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe).

India and Lusophone countries: Lusophone economies are among the fastest-growing in the world. India’s trade with the Lusophone world has grown six-fold in the last decade. 

– India joined the CPLP as an associate observer in July 2021. As part of India’s engagement with CPLP, the Ministry of External Affairs celebrated World Portuguese Language Day in Delhi on 5 May 2022.