NEW DELHI: Indian states are reaching out to the world supplementing the work of the federal government, its agencies and the diaspora.
Uttarakhand is the latest state to join such outreach this weekend through a ‘Videsh Sampark’ – Indian for ‘foreign contact’- programme of the Ministry of External Affairs here.
The outreach programme was led by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs in charge of overseas Indian affairs along with Radha Raturi, Chief Secretary of the Uttarakhand government in Dehradun, capital of the state.
Senior officials from the Ministry and the state government, representatives of businesses, Chambers of Commerce and overseas recruiting agencies from Uttarakhand, participated in the Videsh Sampark.
Streamlining overseas employment for skilled and qualified people from the state is one of the objectives of the programme. Initiatives pertaining to consular, passports and other diaspora issues, are other objectives.
‘The Ministry also made a presentation o
n how Uttarakhand, with its rich cultural heritage, strategic location, and natural beauty could leverage its unique strengths to promote international tourism and investments within its territory,’ a press release at the conclusion of the outreach, said.
The Ministry has a ‘States Division’ to coordinate with various Indian states and union territories for ‘facilitation of their efforts to promote their exports and tourism and attract more overseas investments and expertise’, it informed Parliament upon setting up the Division.
The states of Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana and Tripura have already engaged in foreign contact programmes.
‘The Ministry plans to continue with this initiative with other Indian states in the future,’ the press release said.
Source: Emirates News Agency