INDIA NEWS ISSUE 166 | OCTOBER 2012 MICA(P) 074/04/2012 Unprecedented possibilities, but also External Affairs Minister delivers speech on India’s foreign policy shared vulnerabilities: SM Krishna on priorities at American varsity foreign policy in the 21st century At an event organized by America’s Brown University on September 28, 2012, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna spoke at length on ‘India’s Foreign Policy Priorities for the 21st Century’. A packed house heard him talk about India’s relationship with its neighbours, as well as its interests in promoting peace and democracy in emerging countries. “As our world is globalizing, our societies and communities are becoming more diverse. We now have unprecedented possibilities to spread prosperity, but we are also bound deeply by shared vulnerabilities,” he said. The event marked the launch of SM Krishna at Brown University Brown’s ‘India Initiative’, a series of lectures by scholars on issues A discussion of State visits, the A record- Dussehra in FDI reforms in global Hindi breaking Gandhi Mysore Palace India Conference Jayanti and History Quiz 05 06 and ASEAN 10 11 celebrations A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER BY THE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION, SINGAPORE of importance in contemporary India. Among those in attendance were the Provost Mark Schlissel, Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao and Professor Ashutosh Varshney, the director of this initiative. This event signalled greater educational ties between the two countries, which is also an indication of the cultural ties they share. This expanding bond of education is borne out by the fact that over 100,000 Indians are students at American universities today. The ongoing India-USA higher education dialogue, said Mr. Krishna, is now a key pillar of the India-USA strategic dialogue. He went on to say India is going through an exciting transition; undergoing economic and social transformation on an extraordinary scale. “As a pluralist democracy that stands at the cultural cross-roads of Asia and many of its fault Andrews Hall, Brown University lines, India will serve as a bridge across the region’s – and, indeed, the world’s - people to reconstruct their war- great diversity,” Mr. Krishna added. ravaged economy. This commitment to Afghanistan was reflected in the Taking a holistic view of Indian foreign Strategic Partnership that was signed policy, the Minister stated that policies last year. are not only concerned with the growth of the Specific measures aggregate, but also … global that are now a part with the welfare of responsibilities ... of India’s foreign the individual. While policy and which it is a complex political and economic are expected to play a larger role in challenge, it is necessary to continue the future, included matters of maritime with a high growth trajectory and also security and bilateral ties extending from make it inclusive. He called for an Myanmar to Australia. innovative, dynamic and sustainable Foreign Secretary on engagement of India with the world.. India also looks forward to deepening links with the ASEAN, as it gears up the 67th UNGA Mr. Krishna noted that with a history of to celebrate two decades of the India- A day before the ‘India Initiative’ event at strife in the subcontinent, it was obvious ASEAN relationship through the India- America’s Brown University, Indian Foreign that a resurgent India needed a peaceful ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Secretary Ranjan Mathai briefed the neighbourhood in order to create a December this year. media in New York about the issues India favourable environment for the pursuit of intended to discuss at the 67th United collective prosperity. “Our foreign policy Mr. Krishna reiterated India’s role in Nations General Assembly. will, therefore, be an instrument of our standing by non-proliferation, nuclear development, but also a vehicle to fulfil disarmament and reaffirmed its desire to Topping the list of issues was the need to our global responsibilities,” he added. seek UN reforms. focus on poverty eradication and inclusive growth post-2015 and meeting sustainable Speaking of India’s role in a wider Mr. Krishna concluded by appreciating development goals. He said India would global context, to promote peace and the strong Indo-USA ties and hoped continue to push for Security Council prosperity in north-western parts of that it would be a model of international reforms. Terrorism and the fight to make South Asia, such as Afghanistan, Mr. partnership to encourage global and international waters safe from pirates Krishna said India is committed to regional peace, security and stability. would also require close attention. supporting the efforts of the Afghan 2 INDIA NEWS OCTOBER 2012 INDIA NEWS OCTOBER 2012 Parliamentary visits India: Is the despair Mata Prasad Pandey with Seah Kian Peng misplaced? INDIAN DELEGATES VISIT SINGAPORE PARLIAMENT HIGH COMMISSIONER OF INDIA UNDERLINES STRONG MacROECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF INDIA Speakers of three Indian states visited Singapore as part of a tour around the Narratives of gloom and doom abound average growth of 8.4 per cent. 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary in the context of policy paralysis and Conference that was held in Colombo, Sri the difficulties of doing business in He observed that the high growth rates Lanka from 10th to 15th September, 2012. India, said Dr. TCA Raghavan, High of the past decade had infused great Commissioner of India, while delivering confidence in the India story. This A special visit to the Singapore Parliament a lecture titled ‘India: Is the Despair confidence, however, had dimmed in was organized for Mata Prasad Pandey Misplaced?’ at the Singapore Press the last two years and the GDP growth (Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly), Club’s Eminent Speaker Series. Dr. rate fell as international macroeconomic G Karthikeyan (Speaker of the Kerala Raghavan said that such negative fundamentals became fragile and took Assembly), and John Rotluangliana sentiments do not correctly reflect the an inevitable toll on Indian economic (Deputy Speaker of the Mizoram realities of the economic situation and indicators as well. Yet, Dr. Raghavan Assembly). The Speakers also met the huge potential and opportunities noted that one could see that even in Seah Kian Peng, Deputy Speaker of the that the India economy offers. the period from April 2011 to March Singapore Parliament. 2012, India’s GDP grew at 6.5 per cent, The event was held on September which was still well above what has The Commonwealth Parliamentary 25, 2012, at the Mandarin Orchard been achieved during any other period Association (CPA) was founded in 1911 Singapore Hotel. Dr. Raghavan on a sustained basis, and is among the and provides a platform for advocates recounted how there has been an highest growth rates in the world now. of democracy from all over the world to undue sense of pessimism about Moreover, he observed that signs of a exchange views and knowledge about India in general and its economy in resurgence were equally evident. parliamentary democracy. This edition particular for the past year. He observed was attended by 800 parliamentarians that assessments of slow or even no The High Commissioner also expressed and parliamentary staff from 175 CPA growth, high inflation, clumsy regulatory pride in India’s macroeconomic Branches. decisions, and the like, have generally strengths in terms of a large economy entered saturated conversations around and hinterland, a young population and India. a host of steady advances in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship. Dwelling on India’s economic growth since its independence, Dr. Raghavan With fragility in world economy an delineated four broad phases: 1950 to impact on India’s own growth rates and 1980 with 3.5 per cent growth; 1980 to economic indicators was inevitable. 1991 with a significant jump to 5.5 per Even if India’s growth has declined, cent; 1991 to 2003 with another jump to it remains high compared to other 6 per cent; and the last decade with an countries. G Karthikeyan with delegates INDIA NEWS OCTOBER 2012 INDIA NEWS OCTOBER 2012 3 48 ASEF Governors meet ASEF Governors in New Delhi ON 11-13 OCTOBER, THE ASIA-EUROPE FOUNDATION (ASEF) GOVERNORS FROM 48 ASEM MEMBERS MET FOR THE 29TH ASEF BOARD OF GOVERNORS’ (BOG) MEETING IN NEW DELHI, INDIA. THE ASIA- EUROPE FOUNDATION (ASEF), ESTABLISHED IN 1997, IS AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTION THAT COMMEMORATES ITS 15TH ANNIVERsaRY THIS YEAR. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) thanked the outgoing Executive Director, development and economic growth and of India hosted the ASEF Board of Amb. Michel Filhol, for his guidance facilitate partnership with ASEM in new Governors’ Meeting for the first time to ASEF activities and welcomed the areas such as science and technology, since India became a member of the incoming Executive Director, Amb. education and human resource Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process Zhang Yan. He also extended a warm development. in 2007. The ASEF Board of Governors, welcome to Amb. Rolan van Remoortele, representing 48 ASEM members, ASEF Governor for Belgium and The Governors elected Amb. Rosario discussed ASEF projects for 2013, current Vice-Chairman, who would be Manalo from the Philippines , nominated consistent with the ASEM mandate and taking over as Chairman of the Board by the Asian group of Governors , as the priorities. in 2013, succeeding Amb. Soemadi Vice-Chairman of 2013. Brotodiningrat of Indonesia. In 2013, ASEF will be organizing the 9th ASEF Journalists’ Colloquium in India, The Secretary also spoke about the focusing on the issue of energy, green increasing importance of ASEF in economy and the environment in the building intellectual, cultural and people- context of sustainable development and to-people bridges between Asia and poverty reduction. This was one of the Europe. “ASEF’s strength lies in its 18 projects approved by the 29th BOG in mandate to bring together civil society New Delhi.