Friday, January 1, 2016

Modi: Our Lovely Globetrotter

After assuming office in June 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited several countries in a bid to hard sell his government's 'Make In India' campaign and to boost bilateral relations.

As we all know, how long the list is and its next to impossible to remember it all. Moreover, another year is ending, and it would be ruthless not to mention "Our Lovely Globetrotter" Hence, we, people at BankersAdda, decided to compile the list for you all..!!

March:

Seychelles March 10—11, 2015
  • India gave Dornier aircraft for coastal surveillance.
  • Inaugurated the first of the eight Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems (CSRS) being set up by India.
  • Agreement signed on the development of infrastructure in the Assumption Island, which is leased out to India.

Mauritius March 11—12, 2015
  • Announced a new security cooperation agreement
  • Commissioned India-built Mauritian naval patrol ship
  • Five agreements, including opening up 'blue economy' signed

Sri Lanka (March 13—14, 2015)
  • Inaugurated the reconstructed Northern Province railway line
  • First Prime Minister to visit Jaffna
  • Urged Sri Lanka to think beyond the Thirteenth Amendment


April:

France April 9—11, 2015
  • Rafale jet deal finalised; India to buy 36 fighter planes in flyaway condition
  • 17 pacts signed, including reviving Jaitapur nuclear project
  • France announced an investment of 2 billion euro in India
Germany April 12—14, 2015
  • Inaugurated India Pavillion at Hanover Messe, the world’s largest industrial fair, to promote 'Make in India' campaign
  • Addressed the Indo-German Business Summit
Canada April 14—17, 2015
  • Addressed Indian diaspora with Canadian PM Stephen Harper in Toronto’s Ricoh Coliseum
  • Discussed the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) and Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement (CECA)
  • Met officials of officials of the Pension Fund of Canada for possible investment in India
  • Paid tributes to Kanishka bombing victims.

May:

China May 14—16, 2015

  • Established "hotline" to work between the Military Headquarters in both countries
  • Space Cooperation Outline btween ISRO and China space agency
  • Sisterhood between Karnataka & Sichuan; Aurangabad & Dunhuang, Chennai & Chongqing, Hyderabad & Qingdao
  • Extend electronic tourist visas to Chinese nationals
  • New Chinese Consulate General in Chennai, Indian mission in Chengdu
  • Discussed ways to tackle growing trade deficit

Mongolia May 17—18, 2015
  • First Indian Prime Minister to visit the country
  • Gave $1-billion credit to Mongolia for infrastructure development
  • 13 pacts signed, including enhancing cooperation in border defence, policing and surveillance, air services, cyber security and new and renewable energy.
Russia May 18—19, 2015
  • India to purchase 4 additional improved Talwar class stealth frigates
  • A deal on two more nuclear reactors for Kudankulam
  • Modi to meet defence-sector CEOs

South Korea May 20—21, 2015
  • Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement signed
  • Addressed the CEOs forum
  • Visited Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard
June:

Bangladesh June 6—7, 2015
  • Announced $2 billion line of credit for Bangladesh
  • Landmark land-boundary Agreement (LBA) reached.
  • Flagged off the Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati bus services
  • Paid tributes to 1971 martyrs at National Martyrs’ Memorial.

July:

Uzbekistan July 6—7, 2015
  • Signed pact on procuring uranium
  • Visited the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial at Tashkent.
  • Both countries to join hands in counter-terrorism measures
  • Kick-started talks to enhance surface connectivity between both countries.

Kazakhstan July 7—8, 2015
  • Five key agreements signed, including a contract for supply of uranium 
  • Both countries to join hands in counter-terrorism measures
Russia July 8—10, 2015

  • Met Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif; both countries agreed upon NSA-level talks 
  • Pitched for stronger and deeper cooperation among BRICS members
  • India gets membership at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Turkmenistan July 10—11, 2015
  • Pitched for early implementation of the $10 bn TAPI gas pipeline project
  • Signed pacts in the field of defence and tourism
  • Both countries to join hands in counter-terrorism measures 
Kyrgyzstan July 11—12, 2015
  • Announced a new security cooperation agreement
  • India, Kyrgyzstan plan anti-terror pact
  • Kyrgyzstan extends support to India's candidature for permanent membership in UNSC
Tajikistan July 12—13, 2015
  • Unveiled a bust of Rabindranath Tagore
  • Signed pacts to boost trade, investment and connectivity
  • Expressed interest in joining the Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan Trade and Transit Agreement as the fourth partner
  • Both countries to join hands in counter-terrorism measures.
August:

UAE August 16—17, 2015

  • First Prime Minister to with the Emirates in 34 years.
  • Visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
  • Addressed the Indian Diaspora at Dubai Cricket Grounds.
  • Pitched for $1 trillion investment.
  • Both countries to join hands in counter-terrorism measures.

September:

Ireland September 23, 2015
  • After Nehru, it was Modi who has visited Ireland
  • Sought Ireland's support for India's UNSC bid 
  • Sought relaxation in the country's visa policy to accommodate Indian firms

USA September 24—30, 2015
  • Address the United Nations General Assembly
  • Made a strong pitch for Digital India by meeting CEOs at Silicon Valley
  • Participated in a Townhall Q&A at the Facebook headquarters with Mark Zuckerberg
  • Interacted with the Indian community in San Jose


November:

United Kingdom November 12—14, 2015

  • Addressed about 50,000 Indian diaspora at Wembley grounds
  • Luncheon with Queen Elizabeth II
  • Visited the Tata Motors’ owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) factory in Solihull
  • Signed deals worth $18 billion on energy, defence and development.

Turkey November 21—22, 2015
  • Delink terror and religion, Modi said at G20 Summit
  • Held bilaterals with Australia, Spain, Turkey leaders
  • Met with the King of Saudi Arabia Salman Al Saud
Malaysia November 21-23, 2015
  • Spoke at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit
  • Unveiled a statute of Swami Vivekananda at Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur
  • Attended the East Asia Summit
Singapore November 23-25, 2015
  • Signed India-Singapore Strategic Partnership
  • Unveiled a commemorative joint stamp with PM Lee Hsien Loong to mark 50 years of Indo-Singapore ties
  • Delivered the 37th Singapore Lecture
France November 30-December 1, 2015
  • Participated in the COP21 climate Summit
  • Launched International Solar Alliance
December:

Russia December December 23 - 24, 2015
  • Attended 16th Indo-Russia annual summit 
  • Inter-Governmental Agreement on the manufacture of Kamov-226 helicopters in India is the first project for a major defence platform under the Make-in-India mission
  • Cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy is a cornerstone of the Russia-India strategic partnership.
Afghanistan December 25, 2015
  • Inaugurated the country's Parliament building
  • Handed over 4 Mi-25 attack helicopters
  • Addressed the two houses
  • Had Delegation-level bilateral talks with Ghani

Pakistan December 25, 2015

  • While returning from Afghanistan, Modi stopped over in Lahore where he greeted his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday and had talks during which they decided to open ways for peace for the 'larger good' of the people of the two countries


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