In addition to the mayor Filipović, the Croatian delegation included the member of parliament Domagoj Hajduković, and the programme was attended by representatives of Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Guyana, Mongolia, Portugal and South Africa.

The programme also makes part of the celebration of 75 years of India’s independence, within which a visit to the Indian Parliament was organised.

The goal of the programme was to get acquainted with the democratic tradition, functioning and development of democracy in India, but also to exchange experiences on democratic principles and practices of the countries that the programme participants come from, while strengthening cultural ties.

Mayor Filipović at the international study programme in India

During his stay in India, the mayor also met with the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Culture Meenakashi Lekhi, who towards the end of last week paid an official visit to Croatia and Slovenia. The aim of her visit is to further strengthen India’s ties with Croatia and Slovenia, and Mayor Filipović presented to the State Secretary the ongoing projects in Rijeka – transport and port infrastructure, a nautical marina and large EU projects, but also cultural projects such as the restoration of the ship Galeb and its transformation into a museum that will, among other things, present the story of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The mayor also met with business representatives, mainly IT professionals, who have already established cooperation with Rijeka, the Rijeka university community and the Startup Incubator Rijeka, who have expressed interest in investing in Rijeka and the region.

Also, the participation of the mayor of Rijeka in this study programme of the Council for Cultural Cooperation of India is part of the intensive cooperation in the field of culture carried out in Rijeka by the Embassy of India in the Republic of Croatia, for example by hosting of Indian groups during the Rijeka Carnival, and especially through cooperation with the organisation Yoga in Daily Life.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations, which organised this programme, carries out participation activities in the creation and implementation of policies and programmes related to India’s external cultural relations. The aim of the Council is to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries, promote cultural exchange with other countries and people, and develop relations with nations.