The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the Republic of Paraguay on the eve of their Independence Day (May 15, 2016).

In his message to His Excellency Mr. Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara, the President of the Republic of Paraguay, the President has said, "On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, it is with great pleasure that I convey to you warm greetings and felicitations on the occasion of your Independence Day.

The traditionally friendly relations between India and Paraguay have grown in recent times through exchange of visits and close interaction in the multilateral fora. Our mutually beneficial trade and investment relations have intensified through the India-Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement to which India attaches high importance.

I am confident that our relations will assume greater depth and substance in the near future.

I avail of this opportunity to extend to you my best wishes for your health, happiness, well-being as well as for the progress and prosperity of the people of Paraguay”.

This Press Release issued at 1520 hrs.