What are India’s priorities till the Mediterranean Sea, Foreign Minister Jaishankar told the plan of the West now

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India is working on a plan to strengthen economic and strategic ties from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the west in the coming years. Addressing the opening session of the CII India Mediterranean Business Conclave in New Delhi on Friday, Jaishankar expressed his desire to increase India’s participation in the Mediterranean region. He said India can play the role of a major partner in the Mediterranean economy.

Jaishankar also said that India’s relations with the countries of the Mediterranean region have progressed significantly in recent years. “I believe the level of Indian trade with the Mediterranean region has reached US$ 77.89 billion last year,” he said. Addressing the conclave, Jaishankar said, “…the announcement of the India-Central-East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) at the G20 summit in New Delhi last year has really opened many doors of hope.”

Speaking on the progress made by the country in the field of renewable energy, he said, “India has supported the One Sun, One World, One Grid initiative. This visionary effort creates an interregional green grid that enables the transfer of renewable energy across different geographies.” He added, “As a country like India, which has built one and a half to two new metros every year on average, which has built seven new airports annually for the last ten years, we can be a serious partner for the Mediterranean economies.”

Speaking on India’s growing economic status in the world, Jaishankar said, “Today, India is the fifth largest economy and by the end of this decade it could become the third largest economy.” He said the Mediterranean contributes 25% of global maritime trade through nearly 600 ports, hence the importance of the region for international commerce. He also said it is pertinent to connect the Mediterranean with the Indo-Pacific region for mutual benefit. Addressing the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Jaishankar said the situation has led to significant disruptions in shipping routes. “The ongoing conflict in West Asia has led to concerns about some of these contemporary initiatives, disruptions and important water routes, increasing the transportation cost of ships,” Jaishankar said.

Arvind Patel, hailing from Ahmedabad, is an avid gamer who turned his hobby into a career. With a background in marketing, Arvind initially worked with gaming companies along with top new agencies to promote their products. His articles now focus on market trends, game marketing strategies, news, and the business side of the gaming industry.