New Delhi: Senior diplomat Parvathaneni Harish, currently serving as Indias ambassador to Germany, has been appointed as the new permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, one of the most significant roles in Indias multilateral diplomacy. The Ministry of External Affairs announced his appointment on Wednesday, marking his succession to Ruchira Kamboj, who was the first woman to hold the position. Kamboj retired in June, leaving the position vacant until now.Harish, an officer from the 1990 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having held several key positions both in India and in Indian missions across the globe. His diplomatic career has seen him serve in countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam, as well as within the Indian mission to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. Harish was also involved with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), where he led the policy analysis unit at the organizations headquarters in Gaza.External affairs are on the tableIn addition to his international assignments, Harish has held prominent positions at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs, including as additional secretary (economic relations), where he played a pivotal role in Indias economic diplomacy. He has also served as the deputy sherpa for the G20, G7, BRICS, and IBSA summits. Harishs appointment comes at a critical juncture, as he is expected to take up his new role in New York just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis anticipated visit to the US in September for the UN General Assembly session.Harish will be the public face of Indian diplomacy at the UN, representing the country in key international forums. A mechanical engineering gold medalist from Osmania University and an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta, Harish also holds proficiency in Arabic, having studied the language at the American University of Cairo.
