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Modi Foreign Visits 2014 – 2015 Part 4

United Arab Emirates(UAE)

Date : August 16-17, 2015

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, visited the United Arab Emirates after 34 years marks
the beginning of a new and comprehensive strategic partnership between India and UAE in a
world of multiple transitions and changing opportunities and challenges. .

• India and UAE, these two countries have the potential to build a transformative
economic partnership, not only for sustained prosperity of their two countries, but to
also advance progress in the region and help realize the vision of an Asian Century.
• India and UAE share centuries-old ties of commerce, culture and kinship.
• The two nations reject extremism and any link between religion and terrorism.
• Proximity, history, cultural affinity, strong links between people, natural synergies,
shared aspirations and common challenges create boundless potential for a natural
strategic partnership between India and UAE.

Abu Dhabi, His Highness Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed AI Nahyan and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi agreed to seize this historic moment of opportunity and shared responsibility to
chart a new course in their partnership for the 21st century which includes

• Coordinate efforts to counter radicalization and misuse of religion by groups and

countries for inciting hatred, perpetrating and justifying terrorism or pursuing political
aims
• Denounce and oppose terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
• Work together for the adoption of India’s proposed Comprehensive convention on
International Terrorism in the United Nations.
• Work together to control, regulate and share information on flow of funds.
• Strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug trafficking,
other trans-national crimes, extradition arrangements, as well as police training.
• Promote cooperation in cyber security, including prevention on use of cyber for
terrorism, radicalization and disturbing social harmony.
• Establish a dialogue between their National Security Advisors and National Security
Councils.
• Cooperate to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean region,
which is vital for the security and prosperity of both countries.
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• Promote collaboration and inter-operability for humanitarian assistance and evacuation

in natural disasters and conflict situations.
• Strengthen defence relations.
• Cooperate in manufacture of defence equipment in India.
• Work together to promote peace, reconciliation, stability, inclusiveness and cooperation
in the wider South Asia, Gulf and West Asia region.
• Support efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts.
• Call on all nations to fully respect and sincerely implement their commitments to resolve
disputes bilaterally and peacefully.
• Establish a Strategic Security Dialogue between the two governments.
• Facilitate participation of Indian companies in infrastructure development in UAE.
• Promote strategic partnership in the energy sector, including through UAE’s participation
in India.
• Further promote trade between the two countries.
• Tap India’s expertise in Small and Medium Enterprises to create a vibrant industrial base
in UAE, which could also be of benefit to Indian enterprises.
• Strengthen cooperation between UAE’s increasingly sophisticated educational
institutions and India’s universities and higher research institutions
• Promote cooperation in Space, including in joint development and launch of satellites.
UAE’s plan to set up the West Asia’s first Space Research Centre at AI Ain and plans to
launch a Mars Mission in 2021.
• Cooperate in peaceful uses of nuclear energy including in areas like safety, health,
agriculture and science and technology.
• Prime Minister thanked UAE for its support for India’s candidature for permanent
membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council.
• The finalization of the post-2015 Development Agenda with elimination of poverty
by 2030 as its core objective was a welcome development.
• The International Conference on Climate Change in Paris in December 2015 should
produce an effective agreement, which includes provision of means and technologies to
developing countries to transition to clean energy.
Key points :
• UAE Capital : Abu Dhabi
• UAE Currency : Dirham

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Ireland

Date : September 23rd , 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ireland for his maiden day-long visit to Ireland’s capital city
Dublin for strengthening ties and deepening cooperation.
The first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country in almost 59 years.
• The last Indian prime minister to visit Ireland was Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956.

HIGHLIGHTS OF VISIT

• Ireland support for India’s membership of UN Security council and international

export control regimes including NSG (Nuclear supplier group) during wide ranging talks
which also covered global challenges like terror and radicalisation.
• PM visits not only promote business links between two countries, but also give a strong
boost to tourism ties that are already growing at 14%per year.
• Science and technology and education are two other areas where India and Ireland have
a good history of cooperation like Ireland’s Science Centre in Karnataka is one
example of that cooperation. Irish experts gave India institutions like the Geological
Survey of India and the first Linguistic Survey of India.
• Announcement of direct flight between the two countries which will help the
students as well the professionals who come from India to Ireland.
• PM Modi presented reproductions of selected manuscripts from National Archives of
India to Irish PM.
• Irish PM presents a Irish cricket team jersey to PM Narendra Modi and Hurling
(Irish national sport) bat (hurly) and a ball (sliotar)

Facts About India Ireland Relationship

• Ireland is home to around 26,000 persons of Indian origin, of which around 17,000 are
Indian citizens.
• The Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution are inspired
by the Irish Constitution
• Relations between India and Ireland date back to independence and in 2013, the total
trade in goods and services were pegged at €2.48 billion.
• The key items of Irish export include computer hardware and software, pharmaceuticals
and chemicals, food and machinery.
• Indian exports to Ireland cover textiles, garments and clothing accessories,
pharmaceuticals, light engineering goods and chemicals.

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Key points :
• Irish Prime Minister – Enda Kenny
• Irish President – Michael D. Higgins
• Ireland Currency – Euro
• India Ambassador to Ireland – Mrs Radhika Lal Lokesh

United States of America(USA)

Date : September 24-30, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a five-day visit to the United States of America (USA) from
September 24 to September 30.

SEPTEMBER 24TH – MEETING WITH CEOs OF FORTUNE 500

On the first day of his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with 47 CEOs of Fortune 500
companies for attracting capital and investments in India. He sketched out his vision for “Start-
Up India, Stand-Up India” in meeting.
Theme – “Media, Technology and Communications – Growth Story for India”.
• CEOs expressed their eager interest in the Indian start-up sector and showed willingness to
invest in entrepreneurial ventures and innovative start-ups which will provide bull high
future prospectus in Indian economy.

SEPTEMBER 25TH – NaMo ADDRESSED UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

The United Nations sustainable development summit on was held from 25 to 27 September 2015
in New York which was hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon where Modi addressed the
70th session of UN General Assembly.
• New framework – “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development”
17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets were announced in the summit as an
ambition of the new post – 2015 universal agenda to end poverty, hunger, assure gender equality
and build a life of dignity for all over the next 15 years.

SEPTEMBER 26TH – INDIA HOST G-4 SUMMIT

PM Modi hosted a G-4 Summit with leaders of G-4 nations Brazil, Germany and Japan in
New York. This summit aims at the permanent member seats on the United Nations Security
Council. After 2004 it was hosted by India.

SEPTEMBER 26TH -27TH – VISIT TO SILICON VALLEY & SAN JOSE

NaMo visited tech capital of Silicon Valley for the expansion of “Digital India” initiative. There
he met Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella, Google’s Sundar Pichai, Facebook’s founder Mark
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Zukerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook and leaders of other tech companies. Here are the commitments
done by the tech giants:
• Google to provide India a set up base for free Wi-Fi at 500 railway stations
• Google will introduce 11 new languages in Android next month, including Gujarati.
• Microsoft to provide low-cost broadband technology to five lakh villages across
India in collaboration with the Indian government.
• Qualcomm to invest $150 Million in India to create a venture investment fund that
would probably help start-ups in the country.
• Qualcomm also announced to set up a “design houses” for product innovation in
India.
• Apple to set up a manufacturing base in India.

On 27th September 2015 “Startup Konnect” was held by Nasscom in partnership with TiE Silicon
Valley and IIM Ahmedabad’s CIIE India that showcased the strengths of India’s startup ecosystem
in San Jose.
There he addressed a meeting of some 18,000 Indian Americans in at the SAP Centre and seven
MoU was signed between Indian and US entities:

• MoU between Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms and the California
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences
• To develop Indo-US Life Science Sister Innovation Hub so as to enhance science-based
entrepreneurship, research, academia and businesses
• MOU between Department of Biotechnology and Prakash Lab and Stanford
University on Foldscope
• Economical science innovation emerged from a lab of an Indian with majority of Indians
working in this laboratory.
• MOU between National Association of Software and Service
Companies(NASSCOM) and the Indus Entrepreneurs
• To support the creation of a vibrant ecosystem to foster technology entrepreneurship in
India and Silicon Valley in mutual understanding
• MOU between IIM Ahmedabad’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship(CIIE)
and Lester Centre for Entrepreneurship of the Haas Business School of the
University of California
• To collaborate on mutual incubation, and support each other activities of mutual
interest.
• MOU between CIIE and Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
• To extend NGIN Membership benefits to CIIE.
• MOU between CIIE and Google

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• To support technology and impact entrepreneurs through strategic support.

• MOU between CIIE and Tata Trust
• Founding partner for the Bharat Fund, which will provide seed funding to Indian
entrepreneurs.

There is also a launch of initiative programme i.e. CIIE /LACI NGIN Landing Pad Programme
which will enables entrepreneurs and innovators to gain access to the California and Indian
markets. It will assist startup Cleantech companies with market expansion through partnerships
and funding opportunities in California and India.

SEPTEMBER 28TH – NaMo MEETS BARACK OBAMA

US President and Indian PM held talks to tighten strategic in fields of climate change, security,
counter-terrorism, defence and economy. Barack Obama publicly supported India for being a
permanent member at UN Security Council. It was a third meet of two in a year.
Other participants
British Prime Minister – David Cameron
French President – Francois Hollande

• France, UK and US are permanent members of United Nations Security Council

• Council $2.5-billion helicopter deal of Chinook and Apache was signed During US
peacekeeping Summit hosted by President Obama in New York.
• Modi announced the deployment of an additional battalion, additional police units,
provision of critical enablers, deployment of technical personnel, new training course,
and additional training teams during summit.

United Kingdom(UK)

Date : November 12-14, 2015-12-02

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Singh Modi was on three days visit to UK from 12 Nov to 14
Nov. During the trip, Modi met UK PM David Cameron, lunched with the British Queen at
Buckingham Palace and polished India’s attraction internationally.
Here is the overview of visit:

India, UK PMs attend CEO Forum

The first meeting of the reconstituted India-UK CEOs at 11 Downing Street was attended by PM
Shri Narendra Modi and the British PM Mr. David Cameron.
• Forum was headed by Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry.

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• Key issues discussed – Taxation, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and intellectual
property rights.

NaMo inaugurated Ambedkar memorial & unveiled Basaveshwara statue

NaMo has unveiled a statue of 12th-century philosopher-statesman Basaveshwara on

thesouth bank of the Thames and with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated B R
Ambedkar memorial in London and was announced that every year two Dalit students from
India would study in any university based in London or Europe and arrangements would be made
for their stay in the building.
• The house in north London was recently purchased by Maharashtra Govt for £3.2
million.
• The 2050 sq. ft. property on King Henry’s Road in London is a 3 storeyed structure
where father of the Indian constitution lived while pursuing his studies (DSC)
inLondon School of Economics in year 1921-22.
• Ambedkar died in 1956 aged 65 was posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

27 deals worth 9.2 billion pounds ($14 billion) have been signed between India and UK
during the NaMo’s three days visit to British country. Here is the list of key accords:

• Electricity generation in Tamil Nadu - Britain’s OPG Power Ventures to add 4,200 MW
capacities by investing $4.4-billion in Tamil Nadu
• King’s College Hospital in Chandigarh - Pact has been signed b/w King’s College
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Indo UK Healthcare
• Madame Tussauds in Delhi - Merlin Entertainments plc has announced its wax
attraction scheduled in early 2017 with £50 million investments in 10 years.
• Support “Digital India” and “Make in India” campaigns - Vodafone to invest £1.3
billion (Rs 13,000 crore) to supports the GOIs campaign.
• UK’s insurance industry accords with JVs in India to ↑ FDIs - Standard
Life, Bupa and Aviva have committed to invest a combine total of £238 million of FDI in
their Indian JVs.
• Online business to business marketplace - Contract has been signed b/w E-commerce
cloud platform provider “cloudBuy” andConfederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• Holland & Barrett outlets in India - Holland & Barrett International has partnered with
Apollo Hospitals in a deal worth £20 million. The first store will open in New Delhi in
January 2016.
• “Disruptive” IT technology to ambulances
Advatech Health Care will invest £5 million in the UK n will introduce the same.

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• Collaborations on bond and equity issuance - MoU has been signed b/w London Stock
Exchange Group and Yes Bank with a focus on Green Infrastructure Finance.
• Rupee denominated bonds - HDFC will issue rupee denominated bonds overseas up to
$750 million under the RBI guidelines and will list the initial issue of bonds for trading on
the London Stock Exchange.
• Sterling bonds - Bharti Airtel intends issuing its maiden sterling bond of up to £500
million to be listed on the London Stock Exchange
• “FTSE-SBI India Bonds Indices” - State Bank of India and London Stock
Exchange will collaborate to create the same.
• World’s first India fixed income ETF - Zyfin and Sun Global will be listing the world’s
first India fixed income ETF on LSE.
• SBI UK new branches - SBI UK will open two branches in Hounslow and Ilford and
expand of its Manchester and Leicester branches.
• Wipro Digital - Wipro has increased its investment in the UK with the opening of its
newest office for Wipro Digital.
• TCS will train British graduates - TCS in collaboration with British Council will provide
opportunities for 1,000 graduate interns from British universities to train and work in India
over next years.
• “Skills for Life” initiative in India - HSBC has announced the launch above initiative in
India, a programme to skill 75,000 disadvantaged young people and women over 5
years.
• Dairy genetics & state-of-the-art facility in Pune - Genus ABS will provide dairy
genetics constructing a state-of-the-art facility by investing £1 mn.
• 3 GW of solar power infrastructure - Solar PV generator Lightsource will have
announced a £2 billion investment in India to design, install and manage solar power
infrastructure over next 5 years.
• Investment in South India to promote “Make in India” - Kloudpad Mobility
Research Ltd will invest £100 million for generation of smart watches, wearables and
tablets, creating 2,500 skilled jobs in India.
Thames-Ganga partnership
UK and India has also joined hands to support India’s ambitious urban development goals in
Indore, Pune and Amaravati and also launched a new Thames-Ganga partnership for healthy
river systems.
Keys
• UK Capital – London
• UK Currency – Pound sterling

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Turkey

Date : November 15-16, 2015

The 2015 G-20 Antalya summit held on 15-16 November 2015 was the 10th annual meeting of
the G-20 heads of government.

Venue – Antalya, Turkey

• Turkey took the presidency of the G-20 from Australia on 1 December 2014 and now China
will preside over the organization in 2016 at Hangzhou.
• French President Francois Hollande did not attend the event due to the November 2015
Paris attacks and sent Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius as his representative.

Three pillars of the 2015 agenda were:

(i) Strengthening the Global Recovery and Lifting the Potential
(ii) Enhancing Resilience
(iii) Buttressing Sustainability

Key discussions
Modi was lead speaker at its inaugural session on Climate Change and Development.
Summit was concluded with practical outcomes on priority areas such as development, climate
change, financing for climate change, trade, growth and employment.
• The annual Group of 20 summit focuses on economic issues and crucial discussions over
Paris attacks by formulating plans to defeat ISIS and continue to accommodate the
refugees flooding out of Syria.
• 10-point proposal on tackling global terrorism with stress on delinking terror and
religion while isolating sponsors and supporters of terrorism.
• Escalating international movement of “foreign terrorist fighters”

Malaysia

Date : November 21–22, 2015

PM Modi was on two days visit to Malaysia for building trade ties and attracting investments to
India and to attend the ASEAN-India Summit and 10th East Asia Summit. He also held talks
with Prime Minister Najib Razak.

• Indian Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur would be named after veteran freedom
fighter and commander of the Indian National Army Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

PM Modi and Najib Razak signing a plaque

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian Counterpart Najib Razak signing a plaque during
the inaugural ceremony of Torana Gate in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PM Narendra Modi unveils Swami Vivekananda’s statue in Malaysia

Narendra Modi today unveiled a 12-ft bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda in Malaysia.
• Swami Vivekananda who first gave the concept of “One Asia”that ASEAN and the East
Asia Summits are talking about.

India & Malaysia signed 3 MoUs

• Cultural Exchange Programme agreement for 2015-2020
• Cooperation in Project Delivery and Monitoring
• Cooperation on Cyber Security
MoU was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) and Cyber
Security Malaysia.

Key highlight of PM Modi’s joint statement with PM Najib Razak in Malaysia

• MoU was signed on Performance Management Delivery Unit (PEMANDU)to ensure
excellent cooperation in Public Administration and Governance.
• Announced the inauguration of Torana Gate at the entrance of Little India in
Bricksfield, Kuala Lumpur.
• Agreed to upgrade our joint exercises and set up the SU-30 Forum.
• Emphasised on co-operation and enhanced Malaysian participation in projects
like Make in India and Smart city initiatives.
• Defence cooperation including for advancing maritime security and strengthening
disaster response.

Financial Aid to Malaysian Indian students

During 13th ASEAN-India Summit and 10th East Asia Summit, Indian NaMo announced a financial
assistance of $1 million to India-Students Trust Fund for the benefit of Malaysian Indian
students.

13th India – ASEAN Summit highlights

India and the leaders of the 10 member grouping will review the new Plan of Action (2016-2020)
to further enhance ASEAN-India cooperation.
• Theme – “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision”

Hot topics – Terrorism, trade and South China Sea dispute

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• ASEAN to remain India’s largest partner - After a temporary decline, our trade
increased to about US$76.5 billion in 2014-2015 and so has investments in both directions.
• Full cooperation to ASEAN investors - Prime Minister promised ASEAN investors full
cooperation in terms of facilitating their business operations in the republic and protecting
innovators’ intellectual property (IP) rights.
• Need to end territorial disputes - In accordance with accepted principles of international
law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the law of the Sea, territorial disputes must be
settled through peaceful means”.
• India’s turn to mark in the resurgence of Asia - Govt actions in the last 18 months
have reduced inflation while leading to higher GDP growth and foreign investment. To
provide a transparent and predictable tax regime as well as protection to Intellectual
Property Rights.

10th East Asia Summit (EAS) - The 10th East Asia Summit (EAS) was held in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Theme – Our People, Our Community, Our Vision

The participant leaders reaffirmed their commitment to

• The 2005 Kuala Lumpur Declarationon the Establishment of the EAS
• The 2010 Ha Noi Declarationon the Commemoration of the 5th Anniversary of the EAS
• The 2011 Declaration of the EAS on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations.

Singapore

Date : November 23-25, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Singapore from Nov 23-25 on for his maiden official visit
during which the two countries signed 10 agreements to elevate their relations to strategic
partnership.
• The visit marks 50 years of formal ties between Singapore and India. India was the
second nation to recognise Singapore after its independence in 1965.
• Mr Modi made his first trip to Singapore in 2006 while he was the chief minister of
Gujarat.

India-Singapore Relationships
• Bilateral ties – The highlight was the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership, which
elevates the ties between the two countries. It will broaden and deepen ties across
various sectors including defence relations, economic and cultural cooperation, skills
development and capacity building.

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• Economic ties – India offers opportunities to Singapore in economic. The strategic

location of Singapore, a financial, aviation and maritime hub, with flow of investments, a
large Indian Diaspora, and expertise in urban development, makes it a valued partner.

Other Highlights
Mr Modi attended the State Funeral Service for the late Mr Lee in March, and he ordered flags in
India to be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to Mr Lee.
• Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching hosted Mr Modi to a
vegetarian meal at Komala Vilas.
• Mr Modi received a rousing welcome from about 18,000 people, mainly Indian
expatriates at the Singapore Expo organised by Singapore NRI Forum.
• Mr Modi also took a moment to take a photo with construction workers at the Indian
National Army memorial at Esplanade Park and posted the snap on Facebook.
Keys
• Singapore currency – Singapore dollar
• Singapore President – Tony Tan

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