Increasing counter-terrorism cooperation and improving India’s trade and investment will be high on the agenda during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-nation visit to Belgium, the USA and Saudi Arabia from march 30-April 3. Apart from bilateral meetings with his counter parts, PM will also attend the one between India-European Union at Brussels and Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
Modi’s visit to Belgian capital Brussels comes just a week after a terror attack in the city that has the headquarters of EU and presence of nearly 20,000 Indian diaspora in the country. Modi leaves for Belgium on Tuesday. Despite staying only for a day in Brussels which is packed with back-to-back meetings with Belgian PM Charles Michel and EU heads, Modi has made it a point to meet the Indian community in separate events. He will meet the Indian diamond traders, business heads and attend a community event where he will address the Indian diaspora living in Belgium. He will also meet Parliamentarians and a delegation of indologists, separately.
“India is looking at enhancing cooperation in all areas important to us such as counter terrorism. In fact, the recent attacks in Brussels will be the starting point of discussions,” said Nandini Singla, Joint Secretary (Europe) in Ministry of External Affairs.
Since Belgium is the second largest trading partner for India in Europe after Germany, trade and investment will also dominate discussions. Shipping, diamond trading, ICT, taxation issues and renewable energy are some of the areas that the two countries will deliberate upon. Antwerp in Belgium is the largest diamond trading hub globally as about 84 per cent of the world’s rough diamonds passes through there. Indian traders own a large part of diamond trading business in Antwerp. Besides, the two PMs will also “technically activate” the largest telescope in India situated at Devasthal near Nainital from Brussels.
The India-EU Summit is aimed at deepening the strategic partnership between the two sides and efforts on to finalise the Free Trade Agreement. India has several institutional dialogues with EU and during the upcoming meeting, India will urge it to be partner in its flagship programmes. India will also give a roadmap for next five years detailing plans about its engagement with EU.
Modi will be in Washington to attend the 4th NSS on March 31 and April 1 where he will make some specific announcements and proposals relating to nuclear security and nuclear terrorism. Besides, India will submit a national progress report on its nuclear security programme. PM Modi will make an intervention on nuclear security. India expects the summit to create high level awareness in dealing with safety and security of radio-active material, prevent its trafficking and misuse. Modi is expected to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the NSS in Washington.
Modi will travel to Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on April 2 for a two-day visit at the invitation of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. India will have discussions to keep the import of crude oil going, and increasing trade partnership and counter-terrorism assistance. However, one of the prime focus will also be ensuring well-being of India expatriates living and working in Saudi Arabia. India will also seek Riyadh’s cooperation in smooth operation of Haj pilgrimage.