India invites countries like UK, Greece to invest in its ambitious projects

UNITED NATIONS: India has invited countries like the UK, Norway and Greece to invest in ambitious projects and proposals unveiled by the new government to boost the economy.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met her counterparts from UK, Sudan, the Maldives, Norway, Kyrgyzstan, Greece and Nigeria in back-to-back meetings after landing here yesterday.

Her counterparts conveyed their congratulations to the new government of India for its tremendous victory in the recent general elections.

Expressing her gratitude, Swaraj invited them to participate in the ambitious projects and proposals unveiled by the new government, especially through their investments in the Indian economy.

There was strong support expressed during these meetings for India's permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council, according to a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

The leaders discussed other topical issues before the United Nations during the ongoing 69th Session of the General Assembly.

Swaraj met UK Secretary of State Philip Hammond, Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Ahmed Karti, Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister Dunya Maumoon, Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Borge Brende, Kyrgyz Foreign Affairs Minister Abdyldaev Erlan Bekeshovich, Greece Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Aminu Wali.

The External Affairs Minister is scheduled to meet nearly 100 foreign ministers during her visit to the US and will join the delegation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will reach New York on September 26.

Swaraj will also participate in meetings with the Foreign Ministers of the G4, IBSA, BRICS, Commonwealth and SAARC.

She will also hold bilateral meetings with Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali and Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi.

On September 26, before Prime Minister Modi reaches New York, Swaraj would participate in a bilateral meeting with Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry besides participating in a ministerial level meeting of the Committee on Palestine.