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Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, speaking at the second edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on 17 January 2017, said that the world needs India’s sustained rise, as much as India needs the world.

It is, therefore, only natural that India’s choices at home and its international priorities form part of a seamless continuum firmly anchored in India’s transformational goals. He said that as the world begins to re-order itself, the multi-polarity of the world, and an increasingly multi-polar Asia, was a dominant fact today. India welcomes it because it captures the reality of the rise of many nations. It accepts that voices of many, not views of a few should shape the global agenda. Therefore, we need to guard against any instinct or inclination that promotes exclusion, especially in Asia.

Prime Minister Modi stressed India’s strategic intent was shaped by its civilizational ethos of realism; co-existence; cooperation and partnership. The prosperity of Indians, both at home and abroad, and security of its citizens was of paramount importance. But, self-interest alone was neither in Indian culture nor behavior. India’s economic and political rise represented a regional and global opportunity of great significance. It was a force for peace, a factor for stability and an engine for regional and global prosperity.

Prime Minister underlined that his government was committed to path of international engagement focused on “Rebuilding connectivity, restoring bridges and rejoining India with its immediate and extended geographies; Shaping relationships networked with India’s economic priorities; Making India a human resource power to be reckoned with, by connecting its talented youth to global needs and opportunities; Building development partnerships that extend from the islands of the Indian Ocean and Pacific to the islands of the Caribbean and from the great continent of Africa to the Americas; Creating Indian narratives on global challenges; Helping re-configure re-invigorate and rebuild global institutions and organizations; and Spreading the benefits of India's civilizational legacies, including Yoga and Ayurveda, as a global good”. He said for him, Sab KaSaath; Sab KaVikas(Growth for everyone) was not just a vision for India. It was a belief for the whole world.

Prime Minister said that the people of South Asia were joined by blood, shared history, culture, and aspirations and a thriving well-connected and integrated neighbourhood was his dream. Speaking of about his vision for India’s neighbourhood which puts a premium on peaceful and harmonious ties with entire South Asia through "Neighbourhood-first" approach, he said that vision led him to invite leaders of all SAARC nations for his swearing in.

Indian PM said that India has redefined, in a short span of time, and despite uncertainty and conflict, its partnerships with Gulf and West Asia, including Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Qatar and Iran. In Central Asia too, it has built its ties on the edifice of shared history and culture to unlock new vistas of prosperous partnership. India’s membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization provides a strong institutional link to its engagement with Central Asian nations. To the East, India’s engagement with South East Asia is at the center of its ‘Act East Policy’. It has built a close engagement with the institutional structures in the region such as the East Asia Summit. India’s partnership with ASEAN and its member countries has served to enhance commerce, technology, investment, development, and security partnerships with the region.

PM Modi said that he sees the development of India and China as an unprecedented opportunity, for the two countries and for the whole world. In the management of their relationship, and for peace and progress in the region, both countries need to show sensitivity and respect for each other's core concerns and interests. Over the past two and a half years, India has given a strong momentum to its engagement with the United States, Russia, Japan and other major global powers. These partnerships were a good fit with India's economic priorities and defence and security. He said that in his conversation with President-elect Donald Trump, they agreed to keep building on these gains in India- USA strategic partnership. PM called Russia an abiding friend and said he held long conversations with President Putinon the challenges that confront the world today; and their trusted and strategic partnership, especially in the field of defence has deepened. With Europe, he said he has a vision of strong partnership in India’s development, especially in knowledge industry and smart urbanization.

India has for decades been at the forefront of sharing its capacities and strengths with fellow developing countries. India has further strengthened its ties with its brothers and sisters in Africain the last couple of years and built meaningful development partnerships on the solid foundation of decades of traditional friendship and historical links. Today, the footprint of India’s development partnership stretches all across the globe. India appreciates the compelling logic of regional connectivity for peace, progress and prosperity. In its choices and actions, it has sought to overcome barriers to its outreach to West and Central Asia, and eastwards to Asia-Pacific. Two clear and successful examples of this were the tripartite agreement with Iran and Afghanistan on Chabahar; and India’s commitment to bring on line the International North South Transport Corridor.

PM Modi said that true to its traditions, India has shouldered the international burden of its commitments. It has led assistance and relief efforts in times of disaster. India was a credible first responder during the earthquake in Nepal, evacuation from Yemen and during humanitarian crises in the Maldives and Fiji. India’s strong belief in delinking terrorism from religion, and rejecting artificial distinctions between good and bad terrorism, were now a global talking point while those in its neighbourhood who support violence, encourage hatred, and export terror stand isolated and ignored. On the other pressing challenge of global warming, India has moved into a leading role. It has an ambitious agenda and an equally aggressive target to generate 175 GWwatts from renewable energy. India has also brought the international community together to create an International Solar Alliance, to harness the energy of sun to propel human growth.

In conclusion, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi quoted ancient Indian scripture, Rig Vedawhich says"Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions”.He said, “As a society, we have always favoured needs of many over the want of one; and, preferred partnerships over polarization. We hold the belief that success of one must propel the growth of many. Our task is cut out. And, our vision is clear. Our journey of transformation begins at home. And, is strongly supported through our constructive and collaborative partnerships that span the globe. With resolute steps at home, and expanding network of reliable friendships abroad, we will grasp the promise of a future that belongs to over a billion Indians. And in this endeavor, you will find in India, my friends, a beacon of peace and progress, stability and success, and access and accommodation”.

‘India-Azerbaijan Dostluq Festival’ to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations

To mark the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Azerbaijan, the Embassy of India announced that it will be holding a year-long ‘India-Azerbaijan Dostluq Festival’ during 2017. India was among the first countries which formally recognized Azerbaijan’s independence in December 1991 and established formal diplomatic relations in February 1992.

The ‘India-Azerbaijan Dostluq Festival’ would include several cultural events by cultural troupes from India as well as partners from Azerbaijan highlighting the shared aspects of civilizational and cultural heritage between the two friendly countries including multi-culturalism and respect for all religions. The matter of celebration of ‘India-Azerbaijan Dostluq Festival’ was discussed at the high-level Consultations between the Foreign Ministries of India and Azerbaijan held recently in Baku on 28 July 2016 and both sides agreed to hold these celebrations in a befitting manner. It has also received the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India which has agreed to send of Indian cultural delegations to Azerbaijan.

The Embassy, along with its partners, including the Indian Association in Azerbaijan (IAA)is working on a calendar of cultural events to be under ‘India-Azerbaijan Dostluq Festival’ during 2017. It would be mainly a celebration of the shared ethos of multi-culturalism cherished by our two countries and the love and friendship between the people. The ‘India-Azerbaijan Dostluq Festival’ was formally launched on 25 September 2016 at the Indian Food Festival organized jointly by the Embassy of India in Baku and the Indian Association in Azerbaijan (IAA) in Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baku.

India- Azerbaijan trade records more than 60 pct growth in 2016

The trade and economic exchanges between India and Azerbaijan progressed from strength to strength in 2016. Ambassador of India Sanjay Rana informed that the two sides successfully held several meetings at governmental level in 2016 devoted to trade and economic relations, including the 4th Session of consultations between the Foreign Ministries in July 2016, and the 4th Session of Inter-governmental Commission in Baku in October 2016. Following the discussions of the India- Azerbaijan Inter-governmental Commission, the two sides signed a Protocol listing the areas of collaboration and cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, transportation, energy, industrial production, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education and Information technology.

Ambassador Rana informed that the bilateral trade between India and Azerbaijan has increased by 63% in 2016 as compared to 2015. He said that in year 2017, India hopes to achieve new milestones in its relationship with Azerbaijan. Building on India’s ONGC Videsh presence as a shareholder in Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli oilfield and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), Indian companies are keen for partnership in undertaking projects in petrochemical sector such as building and renovating oil refineries. Indian companies are also eager to make use of opportunities in non-oil sectors, like agriculture and pharmaceuticals and information technology, which are being given a lot of support by the Government of Azerbaijan.

The Embassy of Indian in Baku and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs’ (Emloyers’) Organization of the Republic of Azerbaijan jointly organized a business Seminar on “Make in India” on 12 February 2016 in Hyatt Regency Baku. Around 70 entrepreneurs and companies from different sectors participated in the event.

Ambassador informed that during his recent meeting with PHARMEXCIL (Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India) in Mumbai in December 2016, many Indian pharmaceutical companies indicated their readiness to visit Azerbaijan and look at the opportunities for business, including joint ventures with Azerbaijani companies and possibilities of setting up manufacturing or packing units for pharmaceuticals.

India and Azerbaijan streamline visa procedures

India has added Azerbaijan to the list of countries whose nationals can apply for e-TOURIST VISA (e-TV) through online application, informed the Consular Officer of the Embassy of India in Baku. This visa would soon become available to Azerbaijani travelers who plan to visit India for recreation, sight-seeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, short duration medical treatment or casual business visit. The visa applicants can apply online and it would not require any facilitation by any intermediary/agents.

It was also informed that in December 2016, Azerbaijan has also included India among the 81 countries whose citizens can take advantage of ASAN Visa through ASAN Visa Portal designed to simplify the procedure for issuing visas to foreigners. It was mentioned that the streamlining of the visa procedure is expected to would increase flow of tourists and businessmen between the two countries and would give a new impetus to people-to-people exchange and business relations between the two friendly countries.

India doubles training slots for Azerbaijan under ITEC Programme

India has offered 20 training slots for students and professionals from Azerbaijan in year 2017 under the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, said the Embassy of India in Baku. It was informed that since 2004, more than 100 government officials, professionals and businessmen from Azerbaijan have completed different courses in India under the ITEC programme which was started by the Government of India in September 1964 to share its developmental experience and expertise in various fields with its international partners like Azerbaijan.

ITEC Programme has three important components namely, delivering technical assistance, technology transfer and training or capacity building. Under capacity building, the Government of India provides fully funded scholarship at top-class institutions in India. The scholarship covers international travel, course fees, accommodation, books, medical expenses in India and sundry expenses. Under this scheme, there are currently 56 empanelled top-class Indian institutions conducting around 300 courses every year and around 10, 000 students come from over 160 countries to India to participate in these courses.

It was informed that India and Azerbaijan enjoy close and friendly relations and have an active cooperation between them in many areas including political, commercial and investment, educational and cultural. Both India and Azerbaijan are committed to develop a strong, vibrant and mutually beneficial partnership with each-other. Seeing good response from Azerbaijan, it was decided to double the number of training slots available for participants from Azerbaijan during 2017 to 20 per year.

The article is provided by the Indian Embassy in Baku.

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