“Politics should not drive economics, economics should drive politics!” said Mr. R N Dhoot

NEW DELHI - July 12, 2013 - PRLog -- New Delhi: The ASSOCHAM Conference on  Economic Diplomacy: A Need for Review  was successfully concluded at Hotel LeMeridien in the Capital today. This was a part of the ongoing series of sessions to celebrate the 92nd Annual General meeting of Assocham. Present on the occasion was Mr. Rajkumar Dhoot, President, ASSOCHAM along with Chief Guest Mr. Salman Khurshid, Hon’ble Union Minister, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Guest of Honour Mr. V Narayanasamy, Hon’ble Minister of State in PMO. One of the most important aspects that ASSOCHAM felt requires attention and needs to be relooked is ‘Economic Diplomacy’.

Mr. Rajkumar Dhoot highlighted the fact that Politics should no longer drives economics; rather economics must drive Politics. Economic considerations must remain in the fore-front of efforts to achieve foreign policy goals he said. “We all are aware that economic diplomacy is the art of serving economic security and the strategic interests of the country by the use of economic instruments in the conduct of International relations. ASSOCHAM feels that there is a need to place more focus on economic diplomacy which is now universally recognized”, he said.

Mr. Dhoot further added saying, “In order to reap full political benefits of economic diplomacy, leadership will have to take decisions to break the mindset, which defines national security and trade policy separately. It is refreshing to see India offering large credit lines across the world and help others make progress.” He further added, “In this direction, our Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2011 had announced a package of US-Dollar 6 Billions at Adis-Ababa as Africa initiative. However, we find that India is behind China in such economic initiatives and this needed to be improved. Using effective Economic diplomacy will lead to promotion of trade and investment; achieve objectives in trade negotiations, energy security and realization of political objectives through economic action.”

Mr. Salman Khurshid emphasized on the fact that Economics was the fundamental base of Mahatma Gandhi’s morality. Referring to the recent Chinese incursion into Ladakh in mid-June, the minister for external affairs, Mr Salman Khurshid said that everything is under control and there is no reason to worry, he was speaking at an ASSOCHAM event held in New Delhi today.

“We have now got a mechanism at the border to take care of any incident or series of acts requiring special attention and I am sure that mechanism would address as and when needed,” said Mr Khurshid while innaugurating a conference on ‘Economic Diplomacy: A need for Review’ organised by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). “Our defence minister was there and he has returned after a very profitable, very useful and satisfactory trip, so I don’t know why we should be getting into other items,” added Mr Khurshid.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ASSOCHAM conference, Mr. V Narayanasamy, minister of state in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) informed that ordinance related to the food security has been passed by the cabinet and it will now come to the parliament for debate and discussion with all parties. “As far as food security is concerned, if any political party has any kind of suggestion they can give it in the parliament and the government will consider it.”

Eminent speakers during this power-packed session included Mr. P.S. Raghavan, Special Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Deepak Bhojwani, Former Ambassador of India, Mr. S.C. Aggarwal, Chairman, ASSOCHAM India-EU Business Promotion Council, Mr. Babulal Jain, Cochairman, India-USA Business Promotion Council and Mr. D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.