Vishvas Vidu Sapkal appointed as India's next envoy to Slovakia
New Delhi, June 20
Indian Foreign Service Officer Vishvas Vidu Sapkal has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to Slovakia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday.
Sapkal, an IFS officer of the 1998 batch, is expected to take up the assignment shortly. He is presently serving as India's Ambassador to Peru.
In a press release, the Ministry of External Affairs wrote, "Shri Vishvas Vidu Sapkal (IFS: 1998), presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Peru, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Slovak Republic."
"He is expected to take up the assignment shortly," it added.
In his previous assignments, Sapkal served as High Commissioner of India to Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, and Consul General of India in Russia's Petersburg. He has also served in different capacities in Russia, Armenia, Egypt and the US.
He has done special assignments at India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) as Director in New Delhi in November 2015, Chief Coordinator for the 12th World Hindi Conference, Fiji in February 2023, Chief Liaison Officer - 3rd Summit of "Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) held in Papua New Guinea in May 2023.
In the Ministry of External Affairs, Sapkal had worked in Northern Division, MER Division and Finance Division in various capacities. He was Joint Secretary (BIMSTEC, SAARC and NALANDA) in May-November 2019. He was Joint Secretary (South) from November 2019- June 2023. He also worked as Joint Secretary (Indo-Pacific) from August 2021 to January 2022.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some positive news from the diplomatic front! We need more officers who understand both Europe and the Pacific. Sapkal's experience in Russia and the US is a plus too. Great choice by MEA.
Interesting career path - from Peru to Slovakia. Quite a shift from Latin America to Central Europe. His experience with the Hindi conference in Fiji shows he values cultural diplomacy too. Let's hope he strengthens trade ties with Slovakia, especially in the automotive sector.
Good appointment but I wish we'd see more frequent rotations of our envoys. Staying in one region too long can lead to tunnel vision. Still, Sapkal seems like a dedicated officer. All the best for his new assignment 🙏
Another IFS officer from the 1998 batch getting a plum posting. It's good to see the government rewarding experience, but I wonder about accountability - what measurable outcomes did he achieve in Peru? Just saying, we should track diplomatic performance better.
Sapkal's experience in the Indo-Pacific division is very relevant. As Europe pivots to the Indo-Pacific, someone who understands both regions is ideal for Slovakia. Also, his Hindi conference work is a reminder of how soft power matters. Well played, MEA!
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