In a move to increase its diplomatic outreach, the Narendra Modi Government has decided to touch base with all the 65 countries in the world where no high level visit from India has taken place in the last two years. The decision was taken after the recent Head of the Missions conference where several Indian envoys complained about absence of high level visit in their countries of posting during the NDA’s tenure. Keeping this in mind the Government has decided to engage with all these 65 countries, at least, at the ministerial level by December 2016 so that no nation in the world is left out without shaking hands with India.
With PM’s travel schedule already packed with annual bilateral and multilateral summits and some countries covered by the President, Vice President, and EAM, the Union Ministers will be asked to visit the rest. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she is going to seek support of all her Cabinet colleagues in this regard.
“We have decided that we shall be engaging all these 65 countries at Ministerial level by the end of this year so that any country in the world shall not be left out. And for this I am seeking the support of all the Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State having independent charges. We are together preparing a work plan to cover the entire world by the end of 2016,” Swaraj said during an interaction.
PM himself will travel to some countries where he has not gone so far. For instance, Modi will be on a four-nation trip to Africa this week from July 7-11. Besides, the latin American countries too are pressuring External Affairs Ministry to schedule Modi’s visit to the region. It is believed that Modi may travel to Venezuela to attend the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit as and when it takes the chair of the grouping. And, during that visit PM may also visit Cuba and other latin American countries. Some of the envoys told The Pioneer that with India increasing its global outreach, every country now wants to host PM Modi at least once. “India is the fastest emerging economy and has friendly relations with almost everyone. Hence, everyone wants to host PM Modi,” said Venezuela Ambassador to India, Augusto Montiel.
“India is now shaping the global agenda and plays a prominent role in global issues. When we travel for multilateral meetings we are no longer a silent spectator, or there to provide mute assent. In fact, we take the initiative. In COP 21 we advocated the principle of Climate Justice...We have established an international solar alliance...The UN Draft Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) originally proposed by India is pending since 1996. We revived it and put it back on the agenda and are a building a consensus around it…Today the world listens when India speaks”, Swaraj said.
In the last one year, India hosted all African countries and FIPIC for summits. In outbound travels, apart from PM’s regular interaction with the P-5 and other G-20 members, BRICS etc, there were engagements with the West Asia which included President and EAM’s visit to Palestine, Israel and Jordan and PM’s travel to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar and Turkey. India also increased association with the Arab league. In SAARC PM has travelled to all countries but for Maldives.
Government believes that such outreaches not only increase India’s support base in international fora but also bring Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). “During 2015-16, India received FDI of 55 billion dollars or it can be said that an investment worth 3,69,000 crore rupees has been invested in India during this span. Thus, there is a 43 per cent increase in the foreign investment compared to the previous UPA Government. One cannot receive FDI just sitting home. We need to work hard for it. Prime Minister, Ministers of State and I lay emphasis upon FDI during our foreign visits. And it is a result of these repeated efforts that an increase has been registered in the FDI,” Swaraj said. Government’s emphasis also lies in engaging countries in the flagship programs.
During foreign visits Government will try to connect with the Indian diaspora as much as possible. “It has become our standard drill. As a result of these engagement with the Indian Diaspora, the morale and self-confidence of the PIOs has increased significantly,” Swaraj added.