President Ram Nath Kovind today said that Indian diplomats not just represent the government but also the 1.3 billion Indians and their aspirations in the world which is witnessing "tectonic shifts".
The president said that the government has a clear and well-marked approach to diplomacy today.
There are tectonic shifts taking place in the world, and not just in the realm of geopolitics and geoeconomics, Kovind said while addressing the participants of the annual Heads of Missions Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
"Technology, communication and societal norms are also changing rapidly. Terrorism and non-conventional threats pose a constant challenge to our security," he said.
To manage India's rise in such an environment is not an easy task. As heads of missions, they have to be masters at the strategic thinking, nimble-footed action and be able to quickly adapt to change, Kovind said.
"Our diplomats should remember that they don't just represent the Indian state and the Government of India. They represent 1.3 billion Indians, and their hopes and aspirations.
"They represent our diverse and plural culture, they represent the richness of our 5,000 year old civilisation and they represent a society that in its essence is a force for good and for stability in an unpredictable world," he said.
"The litmus test of our engagement with the external world is what we are able to do to propel domestic growth and development. Our diplomats are doing well on this account. And as they do so, there is expectation for much more, especially when the country aspires for transformational change," Kovind said.
The Indian growth story and its flagship programmes, be it 'Make in India', 'Digital India', 'Skill India', 'Smart Cities' or 'Start-up India', have a multi-layered connect with the external world, he said.
As diplomats, it is part of their mandate to secure new investments, scout for appropriate technologies, create markets for 'Make-in-India' products and bring the best of business practices to India, the president said.
He said that engaging the different states of India is a vital part of the country's diplomacy today.
Kovind stated that he sees "real value of twinning arrangements in promoting people-to-people relations between our States and diaspora countries.
Today, there are higher expectations from us as a country from our citizens living outside".
He complimented External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for her exemplary leadership and work in this regard, saying she has given a new confidence to the Indians abroad in the ability of the government to reach out to them when in need.
"Our missions and our ambassadors are seen as responsive to public needs, always ready to give a helping hand to our citizens and to members of the Indian diaspora. Our E-Visa scheme, similarly, has come in for praise," Kovind added.
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