India and Georgia on Saturday agreed to spur connectivity, regional issues and trade during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's two-day visit to the south Caucasian country.  

In Tbilisi today, the EAM not only held meetings with the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Indian diaspora, but also donated to the Georgian people a holy relic of St Queen Ketevan, in deference to the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wanted to make a special gesture.
 
"Discussed the progress in our bilateral cooperation, connectivity and Afghanistan. Appreciate her strong support for our relationship," Jaishankar, the first Indian EAM to visit Georgia since the country got independent in 1991, tweeted after meeting Zourabichvili Saturday evening.

In his meetings with Garibashvili and Zalkaliani, the EAM discussed "significant" Indian investment in the country, including in the hydroelectricity, steel, power transmission, hydel and agriculture sector. Besides the presence of 8000 Indian students who study in Georgia and more than 50000 Indian tourists visiting the territory located at the eastern end of the Black Sea, add to the warmth to the relationship at a people-to-people level.

"We agreed that for all the progress that we have made, the potential to do more is very much there. And that potential would only be realized if our two governments make a very focused effort to do so. And I look forward to working with you and your cabinet colleagues in that regard," he said.

Jaishankar said that both countries also agreed that connectivity is very much key to competitiveness, reliability and resilience in a globalised world which should be promoted expeditiously.

Analysts see the EAM's visit as a part of the new Great Game between India and China to influence pivotal countries of the world, including Georgia.

Georgia is not only in line with the 'One China' policy but also, considering its geostrategic location, welcomed the implementation of Chinese President Xi Jinping's signature One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR), or the BRI project, even though Beijing has been labelled as a craven money-lender by many, keen to push smaller nations into “debt traps”.

"It is time to expand India’s connect Central Asia policy to include countries of the South Caucasus. Unlike five Central Asian republics, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have varied ties with Moscow. So, India is carefully developing its relations with Georgia and Azerbaijan. This region could be important for India’s broader connectivity plans for linking itself with Europe," Professor Gulshan Sachdeva, Chairperson, Centre for European Studies at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, told IndiaNarrative.com.

A moving ceremony. EAM @DrSJaishankar hands over the holy relics of St Queen Ketevan to Georgian FM @DZalkaliani. Here are a few glimpses- @MEAIndia @MFAgovge @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/K8oYNuBbme

— India in Armenia & Georgia (@IndiainArmenia) July 9, 2021

Earlier in the afternoon, Jaishankar participated in the ceremony of bringing the holy relic of St. Queen Ketevan to the Holy Trinity Cathedral and donating it to the Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

"Honoured to represent India at the ceremony to mark the return of the holy relics of St. Queen Ketevan. Expressed gratitude to the people of Goa for taking care of Georgia’s valuable heritage. Moved by the ceremony at the Sameba Holy Trinity Cathedral," he said. 

India’s gesture was highly appreciated by Tbilisi and will obviously be remembered for generations to come.

“It needs to be highlighted that India, as per the regulations in force in the country, does not consider the possibility of transferring to other countries any historic property, including relics, discovered through archaeological excavations, as such archaeological discoveries are part of India’s cultural heritage,” said the Foreign Ministry of Georgia.

“However, based on the centuries-long friendly relations between Georgia and India, the Georgian side, at the instruction of the Georgian Prime Minister, led intensive talks with the Indian side, in particular, with the Indian Prime Minister’s Office, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Ministry of Culture and other government agencies on transferring the holy relics to Georgia in permanent possession. Considering the friendship, mutual support and close cooperation between our two countries, the Indian Prime Minister took this unprecedented decision on gratuitous transfer of the holy relic of St Queen Ketevan in permanent possession of Georgia,” it added.

As he wrapped up his two-day visit, the EAM participated in the unveiling ceremony of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a prominent Tbilisi park to mark the 150th birth anniversary celebrations. India had donated the statue, produced by artist Gautam Pal, as a gift to Georgia.

Also Read: With Jaishankar’s visit, is the India-China Great Game for influence extending into Georgia?