States can’t fix global deals directly: MEA

In an internal note issued at the cabinet secretary level, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) is reported to have warned various ministries and state governments not to ‘bypass the Foreign Ministry’.

The report has implications for the Gujarat government as, in the recent past, the state has been visited by a large number of prospective investors from abroad, including foreign industrialists, government officials and representatives of economic missions. Most of these visitors have dealt directly with the state government.

Further, companies and government representatives from over 40 countries had participated in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit held earlier this year. Sources in Gandhinagar said that, citing security reasons, the note directs all Central ministries to record the substance of their conversations with foreign missions.

It further says that, except for routine matters, the ministries should keep a record of the minutes of meetings with foreign missions, and copies of these minutes should be given to the MEA.

The message for states is even sterner. It talks about how states should consult with MEA on foreign communications and even says that all requests from foreign missions (even invitations) should be routed through the MEA.