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External Affairs Ministry
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday announced major diplomatic appointments, naming senior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Soumendu Bagchi as India’s next Ambassador to Switzerland and Ajay A. Kumar as the country’s new Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq. The appointments come as India continues to strengthen strategic partnerships in Europe and West Asia.
Soumendu Bagchi, a 1993-batch IFS officer currently serving as India’s Ambassador to Iraq, will now move to Switzerland, one of India’s key European partners with growing cooperation in trade, technology, investment and innovation. The MEA said both diplomats are expected to take charge of their respective assignments shortly.
Soumendu Bagchi will succeed to the important diplomatic role after his tenure as India’s envoy to Iraq. A veteran career diplomat with more than three decades of experience, Bagchi has handled several critical areas of India’s foreign policy, including counter-terrorism cooperation, energy security, investment promotion, technology partnerships and regional diplomacy.
His upcoming assignment in Switzerland comes at a significant time as India and Switzerland continue to expand cooperation in areas such as financial services, clean technology, pharmaceuticals, innovation, education and economic partnerships.
Before becoming India’s Ambassador to Iraq, Bagchi served as Deputy Director General and Acting Director General of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), a premier foreign policy research institution based in New Delhi.
During his diplomatic career, he has served at Indian missions in Brussels, Dhaka and San Francisco, gaining experience in European affairs, South Asian diplomacy and international cooperation. At the Ministry of External Affairs, he has worked in several senior positions, including Regional Passport Officer, Director, Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary.
His areas of expertise include India’s engagement with Southeast Asian countries, West African nations, SAARC and BIMSTEC groupings, along with economic diplomacy and strategic partnerships.
Soumendu Bagchi has a strong academic background, having completed his Bachelor of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta.
The senior diplomat is fluent in Hindi, Bengali, English and French, skills that have supported his international assignments and diplomatic engagements across multiple regions.
Along with Soumendu Bagchi’s appointment to Switzerland, the Ministry of External Affairs has appointed senior IFS officer Ajay A. Kumar as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Iraq.
Ajay A. Kumar is a 2001-batch Indian Foreign Service officer with extensive diplomatic experience across West Asia and Africa. Before this appointment, he was serving as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Uganda and was also concurrently accredited as India’s Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi, with residence in Kampala.
Kumar joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2001 and has handled several important diplomatic assignments during his career. Before moving to senior leadership roles, he served in key positions related to India’s engagement with West Asia, including his posting as Counsellor at the Embassy of India in Tehran, Iran.
His experience with Iraq is particularly significant. In April 2014, Ajay A. Kumar was appointed as India’s Ambassador to Iraq during a challenging period marked by security concerns and geopolitical instability in the region. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in managing India’s diplomatic response and evacuation efforts during the crisis.
In March 2020, Kumar was appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Uganda while serving in New Delhi as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. Later in November 2020, he was given additional responsibility as India’s Ambassador to Burundi, strengthening India’s diplomatic outreach in East Africa.
His return to Iraq comes at a time when India continues to focus on strengthening bilateral relations with Baghdad, particularly in areas such as energy security, trade, infrastructure cooperation, healthcare, education and strategic partnerships.
With his previous experience in Iraq and deep understanding of regional diplomacy, Ajay A. Kumar’s appointment is expected to further enhance India’s engagement with the West Asian nation.
The latest ambassadorial appointments reflect India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its global diplomatic network and ensure experienced leadership at important foreign missions. Indian Ambassadors play a crucial role in advancing national interests, promoting economic opportunities, attracting investments, strengthening bilateral cooperation and representing India’s strategic priorities abroad.
With Soumendu Bagchi heading to Switzerland and Ajay A. Kumar taking charge in Iraq, the MEA’s latest move highlights India’s continued focus on expanding diplomatic engagement across Europe and West Asia.
