NEW DELHI, Oct 25: With states factoring increasingly in the foreign policy of the country in these days of globalised trade and investments, the Ministry of External Affairs has become the first government department to establish a direct link with states by setting up a new division and appointing a joint secretary for “Centre-State” relations. The recent years have seen growing number of foreign investors coming and dignitaries and their delegations undertaking trade, cultural and religious visits to states which has generated the need to familiarise state bureaucracy with protocol and other matters to handle their requirements. There have also been sometimes complaints of delay by foreign investors in the processing and execution of their proposals at the state level. It was for example, the reason that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Japan decided to set up a special management team in the PMO to take care of Japanese investment.
Giving the reason for setting up of the coordination unit, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said ” With India’s interface with the world increasing day by day, and the country becoming a hub for global investment, more and more foreign visits would be taking place to states, which would require coordination with state governments.” The Ministry of External Affairs can assist state in deciding what they want, and from which region, Mr Akbaruddin said. The new unit set up in the MEA can do a lot in skilling state personnel for handling foreign visits, he said. (UNI)
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