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India and Central Asia have profound historical and cultural ties. Central Asian countries play an essential role in the Indian economy and in determining the country’s political stand. PM Modi’s central Asian tour has further helped build a good rapport with the leaders of Central Asian countries whom India shares rich cultural ties with. However, border tensions between India and Pakistan and the Taliban’s capture of Afghanistan are major concerns affecting India and Central Asia’s connectivity. Even the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project is at a standstill due to unrest and tension in Afghanistan and Pakistan. India has even fewer options to increase trade and commerce routes with Central Asia. However, since his visit, the Modi factor in Central Asia has had a much-needed authoritative impact. This can be inferred from the joint statement between Uzbekistan and India during the visit. Furthermore, the consistent dialogues and recently concluded summit hosted by India marked the beginning of a new dawn in the geopolitics of the Central Asian region.
Relations between India and Central Asia
India – Central Asia relations have improved a lot since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The primary hurdle in strengthening ties has been a lack of direct connectivity or lucrative trade channels that can significantly impact the Central Asian region. With efforts from both sides, the gaps in connectivity, capacity enhancement, and commerce can be increased. India and Central Asia have mutually shown support and collaboration in combating terrorism due to the rise of radical movements in Central Asia. This has also played an essential role in strengthening bonds.
Relations between India and Uzbekistan
The relations between India and Uzbekistan had earlier been based majorly on military cooperation. However, the recent developments and the unprecedented COVID -19 pandemic changed the situation completely. Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries extended their help and support to India to contain the virus during the pandemic. India signed MOUs and held dialogues with these nations to supply its vaccines and drugs. The medical diplomacy between Uzbekistan and India has further fostered better relations between the two countries. In addition, India has signed MOUs and agreements with Uzbekistan to supply Uranium. Uzbekistan has a high production capacity for cotton, gold, copper, and aluminium, which is crucial for the Indian economy. Deliberations on economic development and building a robust trade and connectivity between the two sides are essential as both the countries can benefit from each other. India and Uzbekistan have shown concerns about the emerging problem of Afghanistan and the need for a better geopolitical approach, signalling strong cooperation between the two nations.
Impact of Joint Statement between Uzbekistan and India during PM Modi’s Visit
PM Modi visited Uzbekistan on July 6-7, 2015. During his visit, he talked about fostering economic ties and the importance of strategic balance in the geopolitical approach between the two nations. During the visit, the joint statement between Uzbekistan and India had an agreement on cooperation in tourism. There was also an effort to devise protocols for better cooperation between the foreign ministries. Issues concerning militancy in Afghanistan and steps towards improving overall connectivity with the nation was also discussed. A joint plan envisaged by Uzbekistan in collaboration with India and Iran through the Chabahar Port was also discussed to bridge the connectivity issue.
Advantages of PM’s Uzbekistan Visit
India-Uzbekistan relations are crucial since Uzbekistan is a potential uranium and rare earth minerals exporter. India and Uzbekistan have similar perspectives concerning counter-terrorism, illegal human trafficking, arms smuggling, etc., and a combined effort can work to benefit both nations. The Indian and the Uzbekistan government have also signed several MOUs and agreements to have strategic defence, textile, and uranium supplies. If bolstered further, India-Uzbekistan ties could lead to development in some critical sectors. The recently concluded summit in January 2022 between India and Central Asian countries has increased room for better India-Uzbekistan relations.
Conclusion
Consistent efforts to enhance India-Uzbekistan relations can be fruitful for the nuclear energy sector. The uranium supplies from Uzbekistan can give a lot of leverage for India to thrive and come up with indigenous solutions. The rich resources will help propel India’s research and development in various sectors and promote foreign investment and outsourcing. Furthermore, Uzbekistan and India share a common ground regarding the growing security concerns. With mutual objectives, the countries can have an authoritative impact on decision-making and maintaining the balance of power in the Central Asian and neighbouring regions. Apart from this, the economic and cultural relations will positively impact fostering India’s stand globally.
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.
