Lok Sabha Question No. 3469 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Information about Credentials
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3469 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## INFORMATION ABOUT CREDENTIALS

3469. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is initiating steps in the Ministry of External Affairs for speedy and proper disposal of requests seeking information about credentials of foreign companies/corporations and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the steps that are to be taken on receiving requests for seeking credentials of foreign companies from State and on receiving request to despatch of reply;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of a communication from Kerala seeking credentials of EMCC, a US-based company which expressed its intention for deep sea fishing and if so, the details thereof of the communication so received;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of an allegation that no reply from Ministry of External Affairs has been received by the concerned authority of the State Government and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to declare cut-off dates for embassies regarding replies to be prepared in response to requests connected with the applications for credentials and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

- (a) The Ministry of External Affairs is committed to speedy and proper disposal of requests seeking information about credentials of foreign companies/corporations.

It   endeavours   to   dispose   requests   within   the   shortest   possible timeframe by undertaking due diligence, including with the support of local governmental authorities in the country concerned.

(b)

- i. Upon receipt of a request, the Ministry of External Affairs forwards the request to the respective Indian Mission/Post in the country of

registration/incorporation   of   the   Company/Companies   whose credentials are sought.

- ii. The Mission/ Post examines the matter and seeks to verify the address and credentials of the foreign company, by writing to the company concerned and through the governmental authorities in the country concerned.
- iii. The   information   thus   obtained   on   the   company   is   sent   to   the Ministry of External Affairs, which then conveys it to the respective State government.
3. (c) Yes, the government is aware of a communication received at the Ministry of External Affairs from the Principal Secretary, Fisheries & ports (B) Department, to the Government of Kerala, on 9 October 2019.
4. (d) The findings of the enquiry on credentials of the said company were conveyed by email to the Government of Kerala by the Consulate General of India (CGI)  in New York on 21 October 2019 and by the Ministry of External Affairs on 25 October 2019. Subsequently, on a separate followup, CGI, New York had conveyed the same response on 6 November 2019 to the Government of Kerala. The company's address is a virtual office which allows for short term rental and other secretarial service.
5. (e) Responses to requests connected with applications for credentials are responded to, after due diligence by Indian Missions and Posts, with the support of local government authorities in the country concerned, as necessary. It is the endeavour of the Ministry of External Affairs to respond to such requests at the earliest.

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