India envisages more vigorous engagement with southeast Asia: Swaraj
BANGKOK: India on Sunday described Thailand as a valued partner in its ‘Act East Policy’ and said it envisages a more vigorous and proactive engagement with the strategic and economically vibrant Southeast Asia region as part of its efforts to reposition itself at the world stage.
“Our Government is resolved to move with a great sense of priority and speed to implement the ‘Act East Policy’,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said here on Sunday during an interaction with Indian business leaders.
“We envisage a more vigorous and proactive engagement with this economically vibrant region of our extended neighbourhood,” she said, insisting that the NDA government has engaged closely with India’s neighbourhood, strengthened bilateral ties with major countries, energised engagement with the East and repositioned India at the world stage.
She said that India’s ‘Look East’ Policy of the last two decades has been elevated to ‘Act East’ Policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I am happy to say that we have reached new milestones in our global outreach and made significant achievements in the last one year in transforming our relations with the outside world,” said Swaraj, who is here on a three-day bilateral visit and to attend the 16th World Sanskrit Conference.
Valued partner
Describing Thailand as an important pillar of India’s policy and a valued partner, she said the relationship between the two countries has expanded to virtually all areas of bilateral cooperation in recent years.
“Our bilateral relations with Thailand are based on deep- rooted cultural, religious and neighbourly association between the people of our two nations. Our common heritage of Buddhism and the philosophy of compassion, tolerance, non-violence and peace have laid strong foundations for this relationship,” she said.
“I am pleased to see that so many of you are in the leadership positions in corporates in Thailand and the region. In you I see the strength of our people-to-people relations. And in you I also see an influential group of leaders who can contribute to the economic growth of both Thailand and India,” she told the leading Indian business leaders here. She said her government is working on the simple 3C mantra – Commerce, Culture and Connectivity.
“In all these three areas I cannot overemphasise the importance of Thailand. We have embarked on ambitious projects for land connectivity with Thailand through Myanmar. We are also working on enhancing our sea connectivity with Thailand which is a maritime neighbour of India,” she said.
Make in India appeal
“I would urge the Indian Diaspora in Thailand to also consider the avenues for collaboration and be integrated to a growing India and to contribute to the ambitious initiatives of the Government of India aimed at bringing welfare to its citizens,” Swaraj said.
“You would have noticed that there is new level of interest from across the world in building partnerships of trade, investment and innovation in India. Let me convey the invitation from our PM to do business and make in India — for India and the world,” she said.
Swaraj said the government would be happy to provide all necessary support in their endeavour through Indian Embassy, which will channel their proposals to various states of India and convey their concerns and suggestions to the government. This was Swaraj’s second interaction with Indian diaspora during her Thailand visit.
Addressing them at dinner meeting last night, Swaraj had said, “I have come here to tell you to give some attention to India.”
“Invest a part of what you are earning here in works like construction of a toilet in your village... Do a bit for your country from whatever capacity and strength you have acquired here,” she said.
Many opportunities
Assuming that Indians living here might have left their country earlier due to lack of opportunities in past, Swaraj said, “but today there are so many opportunities that time has now come to return to India. Today when you have gained strength, time has come back to pay back to your soil. You should definitely spare a part of your earning for India.” It is estimated that there are around two lakh people of Indian-origin in Thailand.