Delivering a lecture at IIM-Calcutta’s 33rd Institute’s Lecture Series, Union minister for External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, said, “India has not only to stand up for its own welfare but speak on behalf of the global South" as the country has an obvious stake in cooling down overheated global politics."We now have the ability and responsibility to shape the global landscape. It is expressed in new concepts like Indo-Pacific, mechanisms like Quad or I2U2 or initiatives like the International Solar Alliance. On the economic front, we have been judicious in the manner and extent of engaging the world," he said.
The minister addressed the impact and reputation of India on global platforms. He discussed important milestones of India during the pandemic where the nation played a key role in vaccine manufacturing, bringing back Indians during the COVID era and the Ukraine conflict.
Uttam Kumar Sarkar, director of IIM Calcutta felicitating Dr S. Jaishankar Soumyajit Dey
Semiconductor mission
Asked about India’s diplomatic stand with regard to Taiwan, the hub of the semiconductor industry, he said, “The country needs to create an environment for the semiconductor industry to flourish. “Today, there is a big debate on semiconductors and in India, we have started the ‘Semiconductor Mission’. There is a major push from the government to encourage Indian industry to advance partnerships with foreign technology partners, chip owners to see how much of it can come to India. But this requires creating not just a physical environment but also a knowledge environment for human talent.”
India’s contribution to the world issues
The minister also pointed out, “The big issues of our times cannot be solved without India’s contribution or participation.” He said a combination of changes in political standing, economic weight, technology capabilities and cultural influence is moving the country into a higher orbit. He pointed out the need to connect diplomacy with issues which concern the common citizens.
Vaccine and India
He said the supply of vaccines to other nations portrayed the humane side of India and built good relations. He also said that India was highly lauded for it. He also felt that the Ukraine conflict has dramatically widened the scope of political leveraging as trade, debt and tourism are being weaponised and used as pressure points. The political consequences of globalization have created its own backlash and the world is seeing a revived interest in strategic autonomy, he said on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"The unfairness of globalization and stresses of the Covid experience have been aggravated by shortages and costs that derive from the developments in Ukraine. As a result, we are headed for a far more uncertain and insecure existence," he said.
