Food, heritage, diversity, and the kindness of people — Fleming Raul Duarte Ramos, Ambassador of Paraguay to India, has been in Delhi for seven years, enough time to develop a fondness for the city. Delhi has impressed him for several reasons, including the resilience it demonstrated during the pandemic.
An alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School and an economist, he has, for more than 25 years, participated in several negotiations on trade facilitation, and designed finance programmes for value chains, including budgeting, programme planning, project management, staff training, and development.
In Paraguay, he served as the president and CEO of the National Petroleum Corporation; director of the Central Bank; and as the country manager in Development International and Multilateral Organisation. He was instrumental in the creation of the first Country Development Bank in the South American nation.
He is fluent in Spanish, and Portuguese, apart from English.
Ramos speaks to The Indian Express as part of a series of interviews with Ambassadors about Delhi — their home.
Excerpts:
One place in the city that you like visiting often.
I’ve been in Delhi for more than seven years. The two places I love to visit are Aravalli and Nehru Park. I love to exercise outdoors… especially in places with a lot of greenery. I also like the fact that the climate here is somewhat similar to Paraguay.
Three things that have stood out in Delhi during your stay.
My first impression of Delhi was the absence of rain during most of the year. This is very different from Paraguay. The second thing was the traffic. It is chaotic here…unlike my country. The third thing that impressed me a lot was the impressive recovery and overall management of the Covid pandemic.
How do you personally deal with pollution?
This is the only negative aspect in Delhi that is difficult to manage. I rely on visiting other great places in India, escaping from Delhi, and spending time indoors mostly with good air filters. But I do not like staying indoors. In Paraguay, pollution is not a problem.
Our electricity is almost entirely — close to 95% — generated from renewable energy, mainly hydropower. I’m impressed that India is also making a shift towards renewable energy.
What about the traffic?
Well, this is something very unique to Delhi. Most auto drivers driver are like Formula 1 racers. Even though I love to drive, I have no other option but to avoid it due to traffic. But I do take time on Sundays to drive when the roads are relatively less crowded.
Favourite food in the city?
This is quite a difficult question. I like most food that is mild as opposed to spicy. India has a very diverse and rich culinary heritage. Some dishes that stand out for me are rice with curries, butter chicken, paneer, and dosas.
Are there similarities between any place in Paraguay and Delhi?
I definitely would say that one similar thing is the greenery. Our capital, Asuncion, has a lot of trees just like Delhi. We have a national tree called the Tajibo in our national Guarani language. During spring, Tajibos look like a natural carpet that covers the entire city. Overall, with India, I feel Paraguay has some other similarities too. One thing is that both countries are very creative with their hands…they both have a rich history of artisans producing various artworks.
How is Delhi different from other cities where you’ve stayed?
Delhi is very different from other cities where I’ve stayed, due to its size and diversity. What also makes it stand out is the fact that there is no downtown area.
Memories or encounters in Delhi that you’ll never forget?
Something very special for me was the time I got to spend with my mother. She came on a short visit and got stuck here for almost two years due to the pandemic. This was perhaps the only positive thing that came out of it.
One thing you’ll miss most about the city when you leave.
People of course. People here are filled with kindness. I will also miss playing tennis and golf with my friends here on weekends.
Fleming Raul Duarte Ramos, Ambassador of Paraguay to India, has been in Delhi for seven years (Express) 
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