New Indian envoys to EU, Italy, Denmark named

New Delhi June 14 (IANS) India has announced a number of new diplomatic appointments in its missions abroad including envoys to the European Union Italy and Denmark.

Gaitri Issar Kumar Joint Secretary in the President s Secretariat and a 1986 batch IFS officer was on Tuesday named as India s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union which has its headquarters in the Belgian capital of Brussels.

The appointment assumes significance given India s ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EU which has been hanging fire after 16 rounds of negotiations.

Reenat Sandhu was on Tuesday named as India s new Ambassador to Italy. The 1989 batch IFS officer replaces Anil Wadhwa who retired this year.

Ajit Vinayak Gupte Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry has been named India s Ambassador to Denmark. The 1991 batch IFS officer will take over from Rajeev Shahare.

Earlier this month Ruchira Kamboj who served as India s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris was named India s new High Commissioner to South Africa.

Pram Jit Mann who was India s envoy to the Slovak Republic was earlier named the Ambassador to Slovenia.

--IANS
ab/amit