Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday stated that India is in a major place to strengthen its relationship with the incoming Trump administration, calling it a “way more advantageous” state of affairs in comparison with different international locations. Talking at an interactive session hosted by business chamber ASSOCHAM, Jaishankar shared his ideas on India’s optimistic political relationship with US President-elect Donald Trump and the way forward for bilateral ties.
“India has at all times had a optimistic political relationship with Trump,” Jaishankar stated, emphasizing that Trump’s view of India has been persistently favorable. Whereas acknowledging that, like every nation, India could face some challenges in its dealings with the brand new administration, Jaishankar harassed that India shouldn’t be viewing Trump 2.zero as a political hurdle.
“We should work out a political equation with America, however I might say once I look around the globe immediately, there are international locations who view Trump 2.zero as a political problem. We’re not,” Jaishankar stated. “And I believe that separates us from a really giant variety of international locations. We’re in a way more advantageous place to translate 2.zero right into a deeper relationship,” he added.
Jaishankar identified that the US will want India in varied areas, particularly in rising and significant applied sciences. He reiterated the significance of each international locations constructing a mutual understanding of advantages in these sectors, and referred to as for a deeper partnership. “We have to construct an understanding in areas like know-how management. India has rather a lot to supply as a trusted companion,” Jaishankar stated.
On the subject of free commerce agreements (FTAs), Jaishankar mentioned India’s negotiations with the European Union (EU) and the UK. He acknowledged the complexity of those agreements, significantly with the EU, given the various pursuits of its member international locations.
“Within the case of the EU, there are a number of members. So all people has their curiosity. harmonize that could be a problem, however total we imagine it’ll profit us,” Jaishankar stated. He expressed optimism {that a} profitable free commerce cope with the EU would considerably improve India’s market entry to European international locations, which he described as “predictable and secure markets.”
Jaishankar additionally emphasised the significance of India’s manufacturing sector, significantly the function of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He harassed that the Modi authorities has prioritized the creation of extra manufacturing zones and bettering India’s logistics and competitiveness.
“We’ve got to create extra manufacturing zones, enhance logistics, and make ourselves extra aggressive. I believe we now have made progress, however there’s nonetheless rather a lot to be achieved,” he stated.
The Exterior Affairs Minister acknowledged the challenges MSMEs face, together with unfair competitors, particularly within the context of FTAs. He identified that the federal government is taking steps to guard their pursuits, notably by means of a evaluate of the Free Commerce Settlement with ASEAN, which has had detrimental impacts on India’s agriculture and MSMEs.
“The federal government has been cautious on this regard,” Jaishankar stated, reinforcing the necessity to steadiness world commerce engagements with home financial issues.
Jaishankar additionally mirrored on how the worldwide notion of India has modified considerably over the previous decade. He pointed to the back-to-back electoral victories of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities as a transparent sign of India’s rising affect and credibility on the world stage.
“The third back-to-back time period of the Modi authorities has impressed most nations and political leaders of the world,” he stated.
