India and the World | India Writes

With an eye on China, ASEAN calls for bigger India role in Indo-Pacific

January 25, 2018 - by Manish Chand

Amid China’s increasing economic and military stranglehold in East Asia, ASEAN countries have pitched for a bigger role for India in the Asia-Pacific region, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi putting maritime security on the forefront of the India-ASEAN agenda.
In his opening speech at the plenary of the special commemorative summit to mark the silver jubilee of India-ASEAN partnership, Mr Modi termed maritime cooperation as a key focus area for India and ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific region and underlined that maintaining freedom of navigation will remain critical in days to come.
The overarching thrust of the special summit in Delhi, which is being attended by all the 10 leaders of ASEAN countries, is to raise India’s profile in the region with a larger strategic vision to pitch India as a credible balancing force in the region. The 10 leaders of ASEAN countries are also be guests of honour at the Republic Day celebrations, a unique and unprecedented gesture by India that underscores the centrality of ASEAN region in its geopolitical calculus in the region.

Vietnam envoy pitches for real code of conduct in South China Sea (Interview)

January 25, 2018January 26, 2018 - by India Writes Network

The Special Commemorative Summit is poised to open a new chapter in the history of India-ASEAN relations. With India and ASEAN emerging as the fastest growing region in the world, there are enormous possibilities for expanding and diversifying this mutually energising relationship across the spectrum.
In this interview with Manish Chand, Editor-in-Chief, India and World, Vietnam’s Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh argues that given India’s close historical and cultural connections and its growing economy, India should play a bigger role in the extended Indo-Pacific region. To fructify this huge potential, enhancing connectivity will be a potential game-changer in taking India-ASEAN strategic partnership to new heights.
Amid the churn in the South China Sea, the Vietnamese envoy also pitches for a real and abiding enforceable code of conduct and argues that the sea of Southeast Asia is an open sea of all countries, including India.

The Power of 11: An Asian Century

January 24, 2018 - by Manish Chand

Call it the Power of 11, if you will.
The soaring dream of an Asian Century is poised to acquire new wings as the leaders of India and 10 ASEAN countries participate in a special commemorative summit in New Delhi, marking the silver jubilee anniversary of their multi-faceted partnership. In a captivating spectacle, the 10 ASEAN leaders will also be Guests of Honour at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2018, the first time the leaders of a region have been bestowed such a singular honour by New Delhi, underscoring the increasing salience of the region in India’s foreign policy calculus.
In many ways, it’s time for multiple celebrations for India and ASEAN, which are conjoined by “Shared Values, Common Destiny” – the master-theme of the summit, as they toast the 25th anniversary of their dialogue partnership, 15 years of summit-level interaction and 5 years of Strategic Partnership. The intersection of the golden jubilee of the establishment of ASEAN and the silver jubilee of India-ASEAN partnership has only heightened a sense of festivity and pride in what has been achieved so far and what’s yet to come.

Modi chants New India ‘open for business’ mantra at Davos

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018 - by India Writes Network

DAVOS: With occasional references to Sanskrit shlokas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi renewed the global spotlight on a ‘New India’ shaping under his watch in front of the global elite in the Swiss resort of Davos and underlined his commitment to globalisation amid growing walls of protectionism.

In his keynote speech at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum, the Indian leader upheld a ‘New India’s’ unique role in guiding the world through its ancient liberal values and unique democratic experiment. Weaving India’s growth story with its spiritual ethos, Mr Modi welcomed the world to partake in India’s robust growth and the opportunities and solutions that it has to offer.

Assuming the mantle of globalisation, a role Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed to don in his speech at Davos amid US’ insular turn under the Trump presidency, Mr Modi said that while protectionism and trade barriers were rising, India was marching confidently towards a $5 trillion economy by 2025.

After Australia Group, NSG next frontier for India

January 23, 2018January 23, 2018 - by India Writes Network

After gaining entry to two non-proliferation groups, MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) and the Wassenaar Arrangement, India has become the 43rd member of another, the Australia Group (AG). With this membership India is expected to further push its demand for an entry into the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) that has been stalled due to Chinese protests.
“India’s entry into the Group would be mutually beneficial and further contribute to international security and non-proliferation objectives” India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a statement.

Modi to showcase India Growth Story at Davos

January 22, 2018January 23, 2018 - by India Writes Network

Buoyed by India’s growing economy and its rising global profile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to pitch the India growth story to international political and financial elite at the World Economic Forum in Davos.Mr Modi’s overarching message at Davos will be “India is open for business,” also the theme of the promotional campaign India has launched in Davos. Mr Modi will speak on the theme for the 2018 WEF, “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World,” and India’s role in the world. In his plenary speech, PM Modi is expected to highlight pathbreaking economic reforms taken by his government which have led to enhanced ease of doing business. India jumped 42 places in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business last year.
“In recent years, India’s engagement with the outside world has become truly and effectively multi-dimensional covering the political, economic, people to people, security and other spheres… At Davos, I look forward to sharing my vision for India’s future engagement with the international community,” Mr Modi said ahead of his visit to the picturesque Alpine town of Davos that holds the annual meet.

Business Bonding: Fusing India’s size & scale with Israel’s sharpness & edge

January 16, 2018January 16, 2018 - by India Writes Network

India-Israel economic relations are poised for a decisive transformation, with the fusion of India’s size and scale with Israel’s sharpness and edge.Pitching economic ties onto a higher trajectory, India and Israel jointly launched the ‘I4Fund Call for Proposal’ website as part of the maiden call for the joint research and development (R&D) initiative. Under this $40 million fund, both sides will pursue technological innovations in areas such as water, agriculture, energy and digital technologies and create a support structure to convert “know-how” into “show-how”.
Speaking at the India-Israel Business Summit in New Delhi, which included 100 delegates from 74 Israeli companies, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Israel’s “remarkable spirit of innovation, enterprise and perseverance” and underlined the shared commitment to connect the talent pool of both sides towards achieving path-breaking technological advances.

India, Israel map promising future amid Modi-Bibi bonhomie

January 15, 2018 - by India Writes Network

India-Israel relations moved onto a higher trajectory on a crisp wintry afternoon in Delhi as the two countries signed nine pacts in diverse areas and their leaders speaking in one voice about scaling this vital partnership to new heights.
Hailing it as a historic moment in the relationship between India and Israel, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed their shared commitment in taking their multi-faceted partnership to a wholly different level by fusing Israel’s technological prowess and innovation with India’s skills and ingenuity.

Moving beyond UN vote, Israel, India focus on soaring future

January 15, 2018January 15, 2018 - by Manish Chand

Moving beyond intricate chessboard of geopolitics in West Asia, India and Israel are set to fashion a robust partnership of the future, revolving around technology and innovation during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s maiden trip to the Asian country.
Days before Mr Netanyahu’s visit, India had voted against the unilateral declaration of Jerusalem by the US in the UN, triggering speculation about New Delhi’s commitment to taking the India-Israeli relationship forward. Now these apprehensions have been dispelled as the Israeli leader began his six-day visit to India on January 14, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally receiving his “friend” at the airport. Ahead of his visit, Mr Netanyahu had clarified that although he was disappointed, one vote won’t affect this relationship of the future.

With China on mind, US envoy pitches for economic, military ties with India

January 13, 2018January 13, 2018 - by India Writes Network

Amidst shifting geopolitical equations in the Asia-Pacific region, US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster has called for forging a robust strategic economic partnership with India and pitched for enhanced defence collaboration across the spectrum.In a defining speech on India-US relations, organised by Carnegie India and the US Embassy in New Delhi, Mr Juster projected the growing importance of India-US ties and the need to “build upon this foundation in a flexible but purposive manner”.The US ambassador’s big-picture presentation of India-US relations comes ahead of a likely meeting later this month between India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos.
Economic ties through strategic lens
Proposing a Free Trade Agreement with India in future, the ambassador pointed out that India could be an alternative for US companies exiting China. He also assured that US President Trump’s call of “America first” and Indian Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” initiatives are not “incompatible” since mutually beneficial investment in each other’s markets increases the prospects of economic interaction and a robust trade leading to the technological collaboration and creation of jobs. While India-US trade has grown from $20 billion in 2001 to $115 billion in 2016, the trade deficit in favour of India stands at $30 billion and many US companies are unhappy with the protective barriers put in place by India.
“Increased heft in our economic relationship would necessarily provide a broader and deeper, long-term U.S. commitment to India and the Indo-Pacific region. This would complement our growing defence and counter-terrorism partnership, and moderate any policy differences that might arise along the way,” he said.