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Central Asia comprises Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and cooperative ties with these countries are essential for the security and stability of Central Asia. This 90-minutes long meeting was seen as an extended effort of friendship and neighbourhood for preserving peace and faith.
Recent developments in Afghanistan have made it evident that cooperation is required more than ever. The meeting has also highlighted the importance of roads and extended routes to connect these countries. The involved countries’ development is seen as the major highlight of this virtual conference.
The 1st India-Central Asia Virtual Summit is proving to be a significant development in the geopolitical approach from India as Tajikistan is located on an accessible route that can redefine trade opportunities.
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the meeting, and the dignitaries who attended the meeting as Chief guests include:
- Kazakhstan: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
- Kyrgyzstan: Sadyr Japarov
- Tajikistan: Emomali Rahmon
- Turkmenistan: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov
- Uzbekistan: Shavkat Mirziyoyev
The objectives of the India Central Asia Summit
- Development: Seeing Afghanistan’s recent results and the subsequent instability, it has become evident that Central Asian countries should maintain security and peace in their respective countries; cooperation between the countries is essential.
- Cooperation and faith between the countries: Tajikistan is very close to Afghanistan, bringing it under serious threat of terrorism. An effective structure for collaboration should be evolved to avoid this fate.
- Road connectivity: A road map is envisioned for the next 30 years, calling for an integrated approach and cooperation, enabling the countries to build more collaboratively and remain connected.
Proposals of the meeting
- Reduced shipping costs: India has proposed using Iran’s Chabahar port for the free movement of goods and services to reduce shipping costs.
- Establish the IT/ITES task force: The Information Technology task force will enable Central Asian countries to put themselves at the forefront of digitalisation. E-governance is a significant part of digitalisation to increase transparency between the citizens and government policies.
- Setting up the India-Central Asia Centre: The India-Central Asia centre in New Delhi will act as a secretariat for summits between these countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s crucial statements
- ‘We are all concerned with the developments in Afghanistan.’
- ‘The importance of cooperation for regional security and stable neighbourhood’.
- ‘Clarified the importance of a stable neighbourhood with the countries of Central Asia’.
- Practical cooperation is required to develop a road network for regional connectivity.
- Establishing a framework for regular interactions between the leaders of central Asia and various stakeholders.
- Establishing an ambitious, futuristic vision for the development of the nations.
The importance of the relationship between India and Central Asia
- Central Asia has been visualised as the world’s heart and holds great power and control over other global states. Strategically, the geopolitical location of these states puts them with greater responsibility and significant geographical interest to politicians all around the globe.
- China, Russia, and the United States would not occupy as much geographical area as these five countries if they came together.
- European countries and the United States have been trying to break the gas pipeline monopoly of the Russian government for aeons. Central Asian countries are a source of abundant gas and oil supply. China has also been looking for alternate options for the same.
- Central Asia is very close to China, and it will take the least financial burden on China to procure gas from Central Asia.
- The central Asian countries are still underdeveloped, making them potential grounds for employment, procurement of human resources, infrastructure, and growth enhancement.
- The region of Central Asia was once exploited for water resources by the Soviet Union.
Conclusion
The talks between the countries of Central Asia, such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, should be able to result in fruitful ties between these countries. As these countries are underdeveloped, there is tremendous scope for further development.
Diplomatic relations with these countries will reduce the fear of the present conditions in Afghanistan and will benefit India in the long run, contributing to regional security and economic growth. The road route development between these countries would prove beneficial, cutting down the import expenses that India currently pays.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ireland on September 23, 2015. It was the second time an Indian Prime Minister had visited Ireland. The first being Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit in 1956. Ireland is an island nation located in Northwestern Europe and surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean.
The Prime Minister of Ireland, Enda Kenny, had hosted PM Modi during his visit. The PM was attended by other dignitaries such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan, and Ireland’s Ambassador to India, Feilim McLaughlin. The main aim of the visit was to create stronger ties and improve trade and cultural relations. Described below is the impact of the PM’s Ireland visit.
Impact on trade and commerce
India and Ireland have strong bilateral trade and business relations. Before the PM’s visit, trades with Ireland were valued at €650 million in business in 2014. This included exports worth €248m and imports worth €402 million.
The indigenous exports increased from €32 million in 2012 to €55 million in 2014. In 2019, the total bilateral trade was around €1.2 billion. The exports and the imports have also increased to €636 million and €480 million respectively. Currently, the total trade between India and Ireland is valued at €4.2 billion. This resulted from improved bilateral ties between the two nations, owing to Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ireland.
Indian Companies in Ireland
Many Indian companies carry out trade and commerce in Ireland. They provide services to Irish markets and consumers across various industries. Pharmaceutical giants such as Reliance Genemedix and Amneal Pharmaceuticals operate in Ireland. Major IT companies such as Wipro, Infosys, TCS, and HCL also have a strong presence in the country. The trade relations were bolstered after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ireland.
Other companies like Crompton Greaves, Deepak Fasteners, Jain irrigation systems, and Shapoorji Pallonji provide consumer goods and services. Likewise, many Irish companies conduct their business in the Indian market. These companies include pharmaceutical and nutrition players like ICON and Glanbia, IT firms like Globoforce and other companies like Keventer, CRH Taxback Group, and Connolly Red Mills.
Impact on Education
Ireland has been a coveted destination for higher education for Indian students. Over 5000 Indian students have enrolled for higher studies in various institutions in Ireland. The students are admitted to engineering, technology, medicine and management colleges. More than 30 research agreements have been signed between the two nations that allow institutes in both countries to collaborate.
Many reputed institutes like Trinity College, Dublin, and Thapar University, Patiala, have signed MOUs for engineering and science disciplines programmes. Thus, Ireland is an essential collaborator in graduate and doctoral research. This collaboration is also considered an impact of the PM’s Ireland visit.
Indian Community in Ireland
Ireland is diplomatically significant for India also due to the large number of Indian citizens residing there. The Indian origin population is approximately 45,000 people, of whom 18,500 are Non-Resident Indians (NRI), and others are Persons of Indian Origin (PIO). The majority of the residents are working professionals employed in engineering, healthcare and management positions.
It has helped in establishing many policies for the Indian origin population. Two such policies in practice are wearing hijab as a part of the police uniform and the non-requirement of obtaining an additional work permit for the spouse or the partner of Critical Skill Employment Permit holders.
Cultural Impact
As a result of a large population of Indian origin citizens in Ireland and the relationship between the two nations, Ireland promotes Indian culture in various forms. One such example is the celebration of Diwali in Ireland since 2008. The event is organised every year in collaboration with Irish and Indian committees.
Further, an annual contemporary film festival is also a part of the celebration of Indian culture. The promotion of such events indicates the importance of cultural exchange between the two nations. The Irish communities also take a keen interest in conventional practices such as cultivating and consuming Indian herbs and spices. This connects the agricultural practices between the two nations. The cultural ties between the countries were strong, and Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ireland helped strengthen them further.
Another significant practice is the celebration of International Yoga Day in Ireland. The Irish communities have accepted Yoga as a form of a healthy lifestyle. The practice is similar to the Indian tradition.
Tourism
India attracts around 44,000 Irish tourists every year. Indian tourists too visit Ireland in similar numbers. This was facilitated by the introduction of the common British-Irish visa scheme. This scheme allows the tourists to visit the U.K. and Ireland under one visa, rather than applying for two separate visas. It is valid for short stays. India also extended its Electronic Tourist Visa facility to Ireland to digitally facilitate visa approval and generation. The impact of the PM’s Ireland visit was such that it has also helped establish the tourism sector in both countries.
Conclusion
The diplomatic ties between Ireland and India have been impacted positively after Prime Minister Modi visited Ireland in 2015. It was an essential step toward strengthening the bilateral relationship between these two nations. India and Ireland have been important to each other since the 1900s.
In 2010 and 2017, two honorary consulates were established in Chennai and Kolkata. Later in 2019, a formal and fully functional consulate general in Mumbai. Ireland and India have also shown their allegiance to fighting terrorism after the Pulwama attack. India has also hosted several Irish dignitaries on various occasions. These visits were directed toward engagement in business, education, health and tourism.
Further, many agreements were signed to provide opportunities for employment to people of both countries. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ireland helped revive relatively stagnant relations between these two nations. Several cultural and historically similar instances bind these two nations. From Yeats and Tagore to cricket and Diwali, the cultural semblance between these two nations has helped create a strong tie between them.
