By: Amit kumaR Agarwal
India is shining on the global stage, and one man who is tirelessly working towards it aiding the Prime Minister Modi with full efforts is, External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar.
Jaishankar on Saturday inaugurated a new Consulate General of India in Manchester, the United Kingdom, and he said that “India was making up for many things that perhaps the country could and should have done earlier”.
The EAM said it was apt that Vishakha Yaduvanshi takes over her role as India’s newest Consul General on International Women’s Day, reflective of the strides the government has made in putting women’s issues at the centre of policy.
Jaishankar also spoke about the way opening of Consulate General in Manchester was symbolic of the importance of the growing diaspora in the region and a sign of things to come, including an India-UK Free Trade Agreement.
The EAM speaking to the media stated - I completely agree that nothing could be more fitting than for a Consul General to inaugurate her consulate on this day. So it wasn’t just in time; we actually got the day right. Let me reflect for a moment on what this occasion really means to us. In some ways, it’s about the past - we are making up for many things that perhaps we could and should have done earlier.
The EAM added - already, Manchester is hugely invested in India and the other way around. I’m told that the trade with this region is about 700 million pounds, that there are 300, perhaps more than 300 Indian firms here.
Speaking on India's G20 presidency the EAM said - today, when we look at where that approach has taken us, a few years ago or two years ago, to be precise, we held the G20 presidency. We undertook a number of initiatives, and it was a particularly challenging presidency at that time. The world was highly polarised, and people were unwilling to sit together. However, among our achievements, aside from securing the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20, one of our proudest was the adoption of the concept of women-led development by the G20.
In a post on X, the EAM wrote: “Very pleased to inaugurate our 4th Consulate in the UK, in Manchester. Thanks Deputy PM@AngelaRayner, Minister @CatherineWest1, Deputy Mayor Paul Dennett and MP @NavPMishra for joining us.”