Centre for New Economics Studies is keen to announce its new initiative, “State of the States: Paradiplomacy in India.” Through this initiative, we aim to explore the involvement of India’s state governments in the country’s foreign relations. The activities of the centre will include:
1) Release bi-weekly bulletins to examine the role of India State governments in furthering economic diplomacy, people-to-people linkages, and other areas (we will focus on the economic dimension but not restrict ourselves to it).
2) We will seek to also cover visits by foreign diplomats, policymakers, and businessmen to different state capitals.
3) The bulletins will also keep track of important international events that are being held outside of the national capital.
4) Policy Briefs focused on the same.
5) Release podcasts to comprehend the professional perspective of eminent specialists, academics, and practitioners in this domain.
The team members of this initiative: Prof. Tridivesh Singh Maini (Coordinator), Oshi Agarwal, Anousha Singh, Aaryan Panchal and Sarah Arora.
This is the first bi-weekly bulletin for the period from July 6-20, 2023.
(1) July 6, 2023 – US Ambassador visit to Kolkata
US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti visited Kolkata on July 6, 2023. Before this Garcetti had visited Ahmedabad (May 15, 2023), Mumbai (May 16, 2023), Hyderabad (May 26, 2023), and Chennai (June 14, 2023)
In a tweet, while commenting on his visit to Kolkata, Garcetti said:
“…I visited our Consulate in Kolkata, where our first Consul Benjamin Joy arrived 229 years ago to begin our diplomatic presence and start building the deep relations enjoyed by our two countries today. In Kolkata, I experienced the confluence of cultures and cuisines, met our talented team, and interacted with a cross-section of friends, alumni, Access students, artists, journalists, business, and government leaders”.
While Garcetti was unable to meet with West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee he met with the principal chief advisor to the CM and finance department of West Bengal – Dr Amit Mitra. Several issues, including ‘women’s empowerment’ and climate change, are supposed to have been discussed during this meeting. The US Ambassador also met with the West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose.
During his visit, the US Ambassador spoke about the interest of US companies in India’s infrastructure and alluded to greater cooperation in the Quad. Kolkata is also important in the context of India’s Act East Policy. The Thailand-Myanmar-India highway will begin at Bangkok and while the first point which it will reach India is on the India-Myanmar border (Manipur) it will pass through Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Siliguri (West Bengal) before reaching Kolkata.
Dr Amit Mitra also invited Garcetti to attend the West Bengal Investor Summit to be held in November 2023.
(2) July 14, 2023- India’s announcement to set up a consulate in Marseilles
During the visit to France of Indian PM Narendra Modi, an announcement was made regarding the establishment of a consulate in Marseilles. In May 2023, French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain said that the Government of France would be setting up a Bureau de France’ in Hyderabad (capital of Telangana).
(3) July 16, 2023- 3rd G20 Sherpa meeting in Hampi (Karnataka)
The third meeting of G20 Sherpas chaired by Indian G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant concluded on the 16 July 2023. Over 120 members of the G20 member countries engaged in three days of hard negotiations with the “aim to foster transformative, action-oriented initiatives, that is holistic and imbibes the spirit of one world, one family.”
The Sherpas and heads of delegations worked together on the draft of the Leaders Declaration which prioritises six things, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), green development, multilateral development banks (MDBs) reforms, digital public infrastructure, gender equality and outcomes of other working groups.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also proposed the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 member states during the third Sherpa meeting which was fully supported by all member states.
(4) July 17, 2023- Third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Gandhinagar (Gujarat)
The meeting took place from the 17th of July to the 18th of July 2023 and was preceded by the third G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meeting during 14-15 July 2023 in Gandhinagar.
The G20 ministers and governors under the theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” pledged to “prioritise the well-being of the people and the planet and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing international economic cooperation, strengthening global development for all and steering the global economy towards strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth (SSBIG).”
The meeting covered themes such as Global Economy and Global Health, Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure, International Financial Architecture, International Taxation, and Financial Sector & Financial Inclusion.
NICKELED AND DIMED 