If India is to continue with its current grow rate of over nine %, it needs a peaceful neighbourhood, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said.
inclusive growth
If India is to continue with its current grow rate of over nine per cent, it needs a peaceful neighbourhood, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday, while delivering a lecture on India’s foreign policy priorities in Singapore.
India’s size as well as its over a billion population, has often been a hindrance in dealing with smaller countries in the region leading to uncharitable comments about being the neighbourhood bully.
But today, the government realizes the need to carry smaller nations along for overall stability, a must for economic growth. New Delhi is now keen to carry everybody along.
“Whether it is trade or logistics, energy or services, a partnership with India can be of great value to our neighbours,” the foreign minister said. “Our challenge is to provide them incentives to step forward.’’
He said India was now chartering a bolder course and would inevitably evoke suspicion and skepticism.
This calls for “more imaginative initiatives’’ from New Delhi and to “go the extra mile” to dispel suspicion.
As a step in this direction, Mukherjee pointed to India’s decision to unilaterally liberalise tariffs for the least developed countries in South Asia like Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. This he said showed India’s commitment to a South Asian Customs Union, and was also a step forward to an Economic Union of the region.
He also spoke at length of the challenges of security and the need for stability in Asia. “India is not just a motor for regional growth; it can equally be the bulwark of regional security,’’ Mukherjee said.
This vision of India as the center for regional growth and security will probably ring alarm bells in China. The minister clearly spelt out his vision for India as a big player in the region. In South Asia if India stretches a helping hand to countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the returns will counter the threat perception.
However New Delhi as most neighbours say needs to do much more to gain their confidence. But it is taking the first steps in this direction.
Whether it is trade or logistics, energy or services, a partnership with India can be of great value to our neighbours. Our challenge is to provide them incentives to step forward.” —Pranab Mukherjee
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}