Mexican Ambassador to India, Federico Salas Lotfe, Addresses Students and Faculty at Great Lakes Chennai

• India-Mexico Ties Take Centre Stage at Great Lakes’ Inaugural Global Business Dialogues.
• Federico Salas Lotfe emphasized the importance of looking beyond traditional international relations with the United States and Europe, urging India to expand its focus towards Latin America and Africa.
• He also highlighted the role of the G20 in strengthening India-Mexico ties, particularly in the areas of political and trade relations.

Chennai, 6th September 2024: Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, launched its highly anticipated Global Business Dialogues series today, with an inaugural session featuring Federico Salas Lotfe, Ambassador of Mexico to India. The event, titled “Cementing India-Mexico Bilateral Relations: Journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047,” marked a significant milestone in fostering deeper ties between India and Mexico, setting the stage for robust academic and diplomatic engagement.

The Global Business Dialogues, powered by the Centre for International Relations at Great Lakes, is designed to be a platform for thought leadership and dialogue, bringing together global leaders, diplomats, and industry experts to discuss pressing issues of international importance. Through this series, Great Lakes aims to bridge the gap between academia and global business, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and collaborations that align with India’s vision for 2047.

In his keynote address, Federico Salas Lotfe emphasized the importance of looking beyond traditional international relations with the United States and Europe, urging India to expand its focus towards Latin America and Africa. He highlighted the role of the G20 in strengthening India-Mexico ties, particularly in the areas of political and trade relations. The Ambassador spoke of the collaborative efforts between ISRO and Agencia Espacial Mexicana (AEM), Mexico’s space agency, which have resulted in innovative technologies to address natural disasters from space, and the continued partnership in advancing space technologies. 

Reflecting on the potential of India-Mexico relations, Ambassador Salas Lotfe stated, “It is important that we take a look at international relations beyond the United States and Europe. Latin America and Africa too require a country with India’s aspirations to partner with. The G20 has played a crucial role in strengthening India-Mexico ties, allowing us to discuss political and trade issues, understand each other’s positions, and collaborate on sensitive matters. As we both expand as nations, I encourage students to grow beyond their geographical borders and seize the opportunities that this phase of growth presents. The whole world is yours.”

Chahat Mishra, Head of International Relations at Great Lakes, underscored the importance of integrating higher education, industry, and diplomacy in achieving India’s vision for 2047. In his address, he stated, “As we edge closer to the centenary of our independence, the landscape we aim to create must be one where higher education, industry, and diplomacy converge to propel India into the league of leading global powers. The invaluable partnership between India and Mexico serves as a model for cooperation, and our collaborative efforts in biotechnology, renewable energy, and digital innovation are already laying the groundwork for deeper economic ties.”

In addition to the insightful dialogue, Great Lakes also announced the launch of The Diplomats Circle, an official network of ambassadors and consul generals that will foster academic collaboration through student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research, and strategic projects. This initiative is expected to further enhance the global reach of the academic community at Great Lakes, opening new avenues for international cooperation.

The event, which took place at the Great Lakes campus, witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 400 students, faculty, and industry leaders.