This article covers India's development cooperation with Venezuela, Global South engagement, capacity building and scholarships, cultural and health links, and the Indian community in Venezuela. It is based on the MEA brief of May 2026, and the figures are those given in that brief.

Development project with El Sistema

The Indian Mission and the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry recommended a community project in collaboration with El Sistema, a social action music programme. According to the MEA brief of May 2026, the ministry conveyed its in-principle approval in February 2025 to offer a grant of US$ 976,500 under the India-UNDP Development Partnership Fund.

The project was formally inaugurated by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on 22 September 2025.

Global South engagement

Under the heading of India's Global South commitment, the brief records that a consignment of approximately 2.7 tonnes of life-saving vaccines from India arrived in Caracas on 16 November 2025.

Following devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, India undertook Operation Amistad, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief mission. On 26 June 2026, two Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft carried a 41-member contingent from the Indian Army's 60 Para Field Hospital Unit to Venezuela. The MEA announced the mission's successful conclusion on 10 July 2026.

Venezuela has taken part in all 3 rounds of the Voice of Global South Summits (VOGSS), held in January 2023, November 2023 and August 2024. The brief records the following participants:

  • Tareck Al Aissami, former Minister of Industry and National Production, at the Energy Ministers Session in January 2023
  • Benjamin Bustamante, Director General of Alternative Energy and National Representative in the International Solar Alliance, at the 2nd VOGSS
  • Hernán Gabriel Toro Hernández, Vice Minister of Environmental Management Service, at the Environment Session of the 3rd VOGSS

Training and scholarships

In 2024-25, 29 of the 30 ITEC slots allotted to Venezuela were utilised. The brief also records that 2 Venezuelan students have availed of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme for PG degree courses at Delhi University.

In 2025-26, the brief states that despite the efforts of the Mission and a good reception, only 17 ITEC slots could be utilised because of the disruption of air connectivity with Venezuela.

Pharmacopoeia

India and Venezuela signed an MoU for the recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia on 17 March 2026, to strengthen cooperation in the pharma sector.

Ayurveda and yoga

The brief notes significant interest in and appreciation for Indian art and culture in Venezuela. It states that Ayurveda is gaining popularity and was acknowledged as an alternative system of medical treatment in a health regulation issued by the Government of Venezuela in February 2001.

The first AYUSH Information Cell of Venezuela was established at Gran Fraternidad Universal, Maracay in July 2017. The International Day of Yoga (IDY) has been celebrated in Venezuela annually since 2015.

Gandhi Hall

Gandhi Hall was inaugurated in Maracay on October 30, 2018, in a joint ceremony by the Indian Mission and Gran Fraternidad Universal, Venezuela.

The Indian community

According to the brief, there are around 50 NRIs and 30 PIOs in Venezuela.