India and the World

Smart diplomacy, but no solution to climate talks and free trade

- by India Writes Network

With China breaking away from the fold of the developing world India will have the hard task of defending the principle of CBDR, and urge for greater emission cuts in industrialised world. The China-US deal on climate talks and the India-US pact on food security can only facilitate talks on climate change and keep multilateral talks going, but a permanent solution to the problems is not in sight.
The extension of Peace Clause is just like a lolly pop. The real issue is ensuring free and fair trade and acknowledging the right of food security in developing countries as enshrined in the UN Millennium Development Goals.

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India at G20: The Power of 20

- by Manish Chand

Call it the Power of 20. It’s the world’s most powerful economic club, bringing together 20 most developed and emerging economies in the world, spread across five continents. The G20 comprises around 90 per cent of the global GDP, 80 per cent of the world trade and more than two-third of the world’s population. Six years and eight summits later, it’s a high moment for G20 as the leaders of the world’s premier economic forum gather for their 9th summit in Brisbane, the picturesque gateway to Australia, November 15-16.

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WTO deadlock ends: India, US strike deal, boost for Modi

- by Shweta Aggarwal

Signalling a triumph of the negotiating prowess of the Narendra Modi government, India and the US have managed to strike a compromise formula on food subsidies, which paves the way for salvaging the stalled World Trade Organization (WTO) deal on easing of customs rules.
The mid-way formula that ended months of impasse in global trade negotiations envisaged an indefinite “peace clause” on food security until a permanent solution is found, a key demand of India for which Indian negotiators played hardball, resisting concerted pressure from developed countries. A “peace clause” provided legal security to member countries and protects them from being challenged under WTO’s subsidy caps. In India’s case, it effectively means that the country can continue with its food security programmes without attracting WTO penalties pending a permanent solution to the contentious issue of subsidies.

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Economic diplomacy: India seeks ASEAN investments, backs regional trade pact

- by India Writes Network

With the business of diplomacy being increasingly business, India’s reform-minded prime minister has robustly pitched for increased investment and deployment of expertise from ASEAN countries in his project of urbanisation and economic renewal in Asia’s third largest economy.
Attending his first India-ASEAN summit in Myanmar’s capital November 12, Narendra Modi alluded to “a new economic journey in India” and sought greater investments from ASEAN countries in the priority sectors identified by his government: infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, agriculture, skill development, urban renewal, smart cities.
“Make in India is a new mission. We are placing as much emphasis on ease of doing business in India as we are on making policies attractive. I invite you to this new environment in India. Indian companies are also keep to invest in and trade with ASEAN,” he told the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Underlining speedy decision-making and speedy action as his driving mantra, Mr Modi assured the ASEAN leaders that “there will be major improvement our trade policy and environment.” “We will also move ahead with connectivity projects with ASEAN with speed,” he said at the swanky Myanmar International Convention Centre.
Significantly, Mr Modi exhorted the two sides to conduct a review of India-ASEAN free trade agreement in goods “to improve it further and make it beneficial to all.” “I also urge that the FTA on Service and Investment be brought into force at the earliest,” he said.
India and ASEAN are looking to scale up bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2015 and double that volume by 2022. The two-way investments are on an upswing: ASEAN investments in India over the last eight years amounted USD 27.9 billion, and Indian investments in ASEAN reached $32.4 billion.

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Modi’s high-speed diplomacy: 3 countries, 4 summits, 40 leaders in 10 days

- by Manish Chand

Three countries, four multilateral summits, meetings with over 40 leaders of the world, spanning continents and diverse geographies, including Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Pacific Region. And all this in 10 days! If this sounds like fantastic and humanly impossible, weigh in again. This is India’s speed diplomacy cruising along in high gear as Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads on a 10-day overseas tour that’s going to underline New Delhi’s commitment to multilateralism and its proactive thrust to shape an emerging world order.
Prime Minister Modi looks poised to display a deft multilateral diplomacy and reaffirm India’s commitment to multilateralism that was questioned by many after New Delhi stood globally marginalised following its refusal to play along with the Trade Facilitation Agreement at the WTO. In a departure statement ahead of his trip, PM Modi has summarised some key themes of his longest overseas trip. First, be spoke about multiple global challenges and underscored national development and resurgence as the driving force of India’s diplomacy.

By the time Mr Modi returns home, he would have met leaders of most of the world, spanning continents.

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Act East: New energy in India’s ASEAN journey

- by Manish Chand

Act East. It’s the flowering of the Asian Dream, and India’s burgeoning relations with the 10-nation ASEAN grouping are at the heart of this unfolding Asian resurgence. This win-win synergy and chemistry between India and ASEAN, home to economic vibrancy, innovation and enterprise, will be encapsulated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden trip to Myanmar November 11-14 to attend his first India-ASEAN summit and the 18-nation East Asia Summit.
Commerce, Culture and Creativity are the three pillars of India’s robust engagement with ASEAN. In the economic arena, the India-ASEAN relations are poised to scale new frontiers.
Under the new leadership in Delhi, India’s Look East policy has morphed into a proactive Act East policy, which envisages accelerated across-the-board engagement between the two growth poles of a vibrant Asia. This has been reflected in a spate of two-way visits in the first few months of the Modi government.
Looking ahead, the two sides will be exchanging notes on the next steps in their partnership in the form of the 2015-2020 action plan, which is expected to be firmed up and unveiled at the India-ASEAN summit next year.

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