This refers to "Effective economic ties" (April 17). Former Service colleague Jamini Bhagwati makes sound points in endorsing the need for an effective economic diplomacy for mobilisation of external inputs to accelerate growth. A few thoughts:
First, besides Australia and Brazil, Canada and France are among the 25-odd countries with combined ministries handling foreign affairs and external trade. Some join these departments at the level of the supervising minister but Scandinavian countries have the tightest integration, with a single unified entity that covers these activities, along with investment promotion and foreign aid. Could it be done in India? A start can be made with a single minister supervising both, and, before that, steps that lead to better joint actions.
Second, technology tracking and science and technology (S&T) collaboration are imperative for India. Why do we have a few S&T counsellors at our embassies? The Department of Science seeks double their number to 16-20. This should be quickly implemented in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's exhortations on prioritising the sector.
Last, TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) offers a fine model for actions by diaspora technologists and entrepreneurs to set up new ventures and work with the country of origin. So is the Indian Diaspora Initiative the US announced during President Barack Obama's January 2015 visit. These deserve replication.
We need to move from words to action.
Kishan S Rana New Delhi
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