New Delhi: In the first 25 months in office as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has made 41 foreign trips in 38 countries, including four to the United States of America.
On an average, the PM has been travelling out of the country little more than 1.5 times a month, drawing some strong criticism from opposition parties.
The Prime Minister, however, refuses to rest and instead chooses to concentrate on making each of his visits count.
Besides projecting a powerful picture of India before global biggies, Modi’s foreign sojourns also have India’s interests – both economic and strategic – at the heart of it.
Be it in the strategically important Afghanistan or the economic powerhouse US, every visit has something in it in India’s interest.
He is now on a five-nation tour of Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico.
The top most agenda for the 41st trip of the PM is to garner support for India’s entry into the coveted Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG. It is worth a mention that NSG will meet on June 9 and 10 in Vienna to discuss new applicants.
Needless to say that entry into the NSG will give a major boost to India’s civil nuclear programme.
It is worth a mention that nuclear power is the largest source of electricity in India after thermal, hydroelectric and renewable sources.
India, till date, has as many as 21 nuclear reactors in operation in seven different nuclear power plants across the country. The country would soon add six more reactors with an electricity capacity of 4,300 MW together.
Going forward, the government’s vision is to fulfil 25 per cent of the county’s electricity requirements from nuclear power by the year 2050. The dream, though ambitious, is achievable but would require India to gain entry into the coveted NSG.
India’s civil nuclear programme has already suffered a lot as the country was outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for the last 34 years.
The nation was largely remained excluded from trade in nuclear plant or materials, as result it hampered the development of civil nuclear energy.
However, the country of 1.3 billion people has developed a flourishing and largely indigenous nuclear power programme.
The situation changed a bit in the year 2009 when the Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed to allow nuclear exports to India. France was the first country to sign a civilian nuclear agreement with India in September 2008.
The expectations are high from the Civil Nuclear programme as India expects to have 14.6 GWe nuclear capacity by 2024 and 63 GWe by 2032. The government, on its part, also aims to become a world leader in nuclear technology due to its expertise in fast reactors and thorium fuel cycle.
Modi’s diplomacy could led India into the prestigious NSG, as it would open the doors to adopt newer and competitive civil nuclear technology.
Here are the major agenda of Modi’s diplomatic mission in the respective countries:
Dam Diplomacy in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has historically shared a friendly relation with India. However, the past decade or so has seen ties between both countries deepening, especially since the toppling of the Taliban government in 2001. India’s economic engagements in the country thus underline the strategic importance India accords to relations with Afghanistan and its growing significance in the region, much to the dismay of Pakistan.
At the first stop of his five-nation tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani inaugurated the landmark dam, a Rs 1,700 crore showpiece infrastructure project by India in strategically important Herat province. The project further sharpens India’s resolve for strengthening its strategic position in the region.
The Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, on river Chist-e-Sharif in western Herat neighbouring Iran, is of much importance as it will irrigate 75,000 hectares of land and generate 42 MW of power.
Touted as a "landmark" infrastructure project, the dam located 165 km east of Herat town, is expected to significantly boost the agricultural economy of the province. The project has been executed and implemented by WAPCOS Ltd, a government of India undertaking under ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
Over 1,500 Indian and Afghan engineers were involved in construction of the dam for several years in difficult condition. Afghanistan is Modi's first stop as part of his five-nation tour which will also take him to Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico.
A stable and friendly regime in Kabul which recognises India’s intent on its economic prosperity serves in India’s regional interests – the numerous attacks on India’s properties in the country are proof of it.On its part, Afghanistan also conferred PM Modi with its highest civilian honour, the Amir Amanullah Khan Award.
7 MoU's with Qatar
The highlight of this visit were the seven agreements signed by India and Qatar, including on investment and tourism promotion.
Cooperation and investment in areas of skill development and education, health, tourism and sports between the two countries were the other agreements signed by the two countries in the presence of Narendra Modi and Qatar Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
Following these, a MoU was signed between Qatar Investment Authority and External Affairs Ministry for investment in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund that would facilitate foreign investment from the gas-rich Gulf state.
Also, an MoU was signed between Finance Intelligence Unit India (FIU-IND) and the Qatar Financial Information Unit (QFIU) that would help in tracking money flow and investment from Qatar to India. It would also help authorities to safeguard against money laundering, terrorism financing and other economic offences.
Here too, PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the Emiri Diwan.
Switzerland' support for NSG
PM Modi managed a major achievement by getting Switzerland’s support for India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the elite 48-member nuclear trading nations' club.
The NSG aims at controlling exports of nuclear materials, equipment and technology through the implementation of two sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports and its membership, for which India has been toiling hard for years, will help the country to expand its atomic energy sector.
India has been ruled out of the NSG for decades after it refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while developing its own nuclear technology. However, with PM Modi securing Switzerland’s support for India’s NSG bid, the chances of that happening are one step closer.
Another significant development for India was Modi getting Switzerland to agree for expanding cooperation in tackling the problem of Indians stashing black money in Swiss banks. This is besides stepping up ties in areas of trade, investment and vocational training.
Both sides have also agreed on building upon the Swiss Vocational and Educational Training system suited to India's needs.
Fourth visit to United States of America
The fact that this is Modi's fourth visit to the States in two years establishes the growing collaboration between India and the US and their "shared leadership" on the world stage. If it is any indication, the United States has itself called Modi’s trip a celebration of remarkable transformation in US-India ties.
PM Modi is going to the US at the invitation of President Barack Obama, who in the last year of his presidency is inviting a few world leaders with whom he shared a “close and productive working relationship”.
Here, Modi will address to a joint sitting of the US Congress and will become the first foreign leader to do so this year and also the first to address a joint meeting of the Congress under Speaker Paul Ryan.
Besides, he will attend a meeting of US business leaders and address the US-India Business Council.
A senior administration official from the US said, "From addressing climate change and providing clean energy solutions, to deepening our economic and trade ties, to preserving cyberspace as an engine for growth and development, to protecting our shared spaces on the sea, in the air, and in space, the world is better when the United States and India lead together."
Modi in Mexico
At his last stop, PM Modi will focus on expanding economic cooperation and seeking Mexico’s support for further strengthening India’s bid for NSG membership.
India, which is already abiding by the NSG Guidelines without being a member, has been reaching out to all representatives across the 48 member nations to support India’s case. The NSG will meet on June 9 and 10 in Vienna to discuss new applicants.
China has been constantly raising objections to India’s bid for NSG membership. In fact, it has backed Pakistan’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
This will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister after 1986 when then PM Rajiv Gandhi had visited that country. Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited Mexico in 2012 to attend G 20 summit.
