1. Good Afternoon to all of you! It is indeed a pleasure and privilege for me to be amongst you.

2. It is a great pleasure whenever I have such an opportunity to see the bright faces, sparkling eyes and young minds of students filled with high hopes, aspirations and a strong desire to make a change in the environment in which they live.

1. It is a great pleasure for me to visit the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT. I am accompanied by Minister of State in the Indian Prime Minister’s Office, H’ble Dr.

1.It is indeed a singular honour for me to be the first Head of State of India to pay a visit to your beautiful country. I am deeply touched by the warm welcome accorded to me - and to my delegation - and the unstinting hospitality extended to us since our arrival.

1. I am delighted to be here in Abidjan, Pearl of West Africa, on the very first State Visit by a President of India to this beautiful country.

1.I am delighted to visit Namibia, a nation blessed by Nature, endowed with abundant resources, caressed by the ocean, and inhabited by the brave. I feel truly honoured to have this opportunity to address this august House of the leaders and representatives of the people of Namibia.

1. It is indeed a proud privilege for me and my colleagues to be hosted in such a warm and hospitable way. The speech of the President of Namibia at this banquet will be considered an important milestone in the bilateral relations between India and Namibia. I consider myself privileged by the presence of founders of SWAPO and leaders of Namibia who not only led the liberation struggle but also made important contributions so that the people and Government of Namibia can occupy their rightful place in the comity of nations.

Your Excellency,

1.It is indeed a great privilege for me to be amidst you this morning inthe Namibia University of Science and Technology. I am particularly happy to be amidst the academic community, the new generation and future leaders of Namibia.

It is indeed a privilege for me to participate in this inauguration of the "Vivekananda Sabhagar” at Kathak Kendra. I take this opportunity to congratulate Shri Mahesh Sharma, Minister for Culture, Shri N.K. Sinha, Secretary (Culture) and Shri Shekhar Sen, the Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Vice chancellors of central universities, Directors of IITs, NITs, IISc/ IISERs, SPAs, IIITs, NIPERs;

Heads of other institutes and civil service academies;

Faculty members;

Officer trainees of various civil services;

My dear students:

Fellow citizens:

1. On the eve of sixty-ninth anniversary of our Independence, I extend warm greetings to all my brothers and sisters in the country and abroad.