New Delhi: Reenat Sandhu has been named as India’s new Ambassador to Italy as India announces a number of new diplomatic appointments in its missions abroad, including envoys to the European Union, Italy and Denmark.
The 1989 batch IFS officer replaces Anil Wadhwa, who retired this year.
Sandhu’s appointment signals a renewed focus by India on economic diplomacy with Europe and Italy will be a key partner.
She is the specialist in Economic & Commercial diplomacy – was JS ITP; Dy PR to WTO; and Head of Commerce & Economic Wing of Washington. Served in key missions – Russia-Ukraine, and Sri Lanka
Sandhu is currently deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy in Washington.
Meanwhile, as reported by NewsMobile in April, Gaitri Issar Kumar, Joint Secretary in the President’s Secretariat and a 1986 batch IFS officer, has been named as India’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union which has its headquarters in the Belgian capital of Brussels.
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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.
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.
Param Jit Mann, who was India’s envoy to the Slovak Republic, was earlier named the Ambassador to Slovenia.