Focus on states in Modi's diplomatic road map

NEW DELHI: As the government tries to rev up investment in the infrastructure sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to make his foreign policy more attuned to the demands for the same by developing a state focus which will promote greater engagement between Indian states and foreign countries.

Under this new focus, officials sources said, the foreign ministry will not just actively facilitate attempts by states to seek investments in infrastructure from abroad but also encourage them to engage with relevant countries for developing business and cultural links.

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj unveiled the new initiative in Singapore when she listed state focus as one of the ways to promote ties with that country. As a part of the same initiative, Swaraj's visit to Singapore is followed by that of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje, Telengana CM K Chandrashekar Rao and their Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu later this month.

Modi made no secret of his desire to overhaul MEA even before he became PM and he may have taken his first step towards achieving this by asking the ministry to work in tandem with states over economic issues. Addressing a gathering of traders in Mumbai in February this year, he had said that overseas mission needed to facilitate trade and business more and not restrict themselves to sending mundane despatches about host countries.

The state focus, which is now reflected in foreign policy, is a pointer to states participating actively in economic diplomacy. This is the first time that an MEA statement (by Swaraj) talks of state focus,'' said an official.

In Singapore, Swaraj shared a vision'' to build India-Singapore ties on what she described as a 5 S plank - scale up trade and investments, speed up connectivity, smart cities with focus on urban development and water management, skill development and state focus to promote engagement with Indian states.

We look forward to Singapore companies to speed up connectivity and infrastructure projects in India, particularly, along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), the Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor and the North-East,'' said Swaraj, adding that Singapore could develop a virtual city or a ""little Singapore" somewhere along the corridor.

Modi's vision for 100 smart cities, as outlined in the annual budget, is also emerging as a major thrust area for the foreign ministry which is seeking expertise from abroad for implementing the proposal. In Singapore, Swaraj discussed the idea with her counterpart K Shanmugam.

Singapore's expertise in Smart Cities, urban planning and water management strategies offer a valuable learning experience for India. We shall work for setting up greenfield Smart Cities and for urban rejuvenation,'' she said.