Cross-border terror and India's ties with neighbours, including China, and other key regional issues are expected to be high on the agenda of annual conference of Indian Heads of Missions here from November 4 to be attended by nearly 120 envoys.
The four-day brainstorming meet, which is a closed-door affair, will also have some new components including business round tables with the Indian Heads of Missions from US and Canada, Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) & Africa Regions on November 5, the spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.
These round tables will be attended by a select group of CEOs and senior industry members.
Asked if the deliberations of the Heads of Missions will be confined to India's role in the present international scenario or issues like the repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan and developments in China on the borders will also be discussed, the spokesperson said, "all the issues that you mentioned will be discussed."
"As will India's socioeconomic realities be discussed, as will areas about our development agenda and what we are doing to implement the global development agenda be discussed. So this is a holistic approach....
"We expect that all issues of interest to practitioners of Indian foreign policy will be covered in that discussion," he said.
The theme for this year's conference is "India's Place in Changing World Order : Where Do We See Ourselves? What Do We Wish to Achieve?"
"As is usual, the Heads of Mission will interact with the President, the Vice-President. The Prime Minister will address them. They will also be addressed by the External Affairs Minister, the Minister for Commerce, and the National Security Advisor," the Spokesperson said.
Interestingly this year, in addition to the usual focus on neighbours and South Asia, the effort is also to focus in a very specific regional manner, he said.
Therefore, the meet will have CII and FICCI round tables focused on different regions, he said, adding these will be interactions between the Heads of Missions from various regions with leading Indian businessmen etc., who have interest in those regions.
In addition, there will also be sessions devoted to consular and passport issues which are assuming increasing importance.
"Sam Pitroda will address the Ambassadors on 'Innovations as Instruments of Foreign Policy'. This is again a new venture that we are endeavouring," the Spokesperson added.
