Lok Sabha Question No. 4812 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Enhancement of Regional Strategic Cooperation
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4812

ANSWERED ON- 28/03/2025

## ENHANCEMENT OF REGIONAL STRATEGIC COOPERATION

4812 SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a)   the   initiatives   undertaken   by   the   Government   to   enhance   regional strategic cooperation particularly in the Gulf and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions;

- (b) the manner in which the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is expected to improve connectivity and trade relations between India and other countries;
- (c) the measures being implemented to address security challenges in the region and ensure maritime safety;
- (d) the manner in which the Government plans to leverage its diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with countries in the Mediterranean and beyond; and

(e)   the   details   of   the   role   played   by   the   Indian   diaspora   in   fostering economic   and   cultural   connections   between   India   and   the   regions discussed?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) & (d)     With the objective to further strengthen ties with countries in Gulf, MENA and Mediterranean region, India has leveraged its diplomatic efforts   and   entered   into   multifaceted   strategic   partnerships   with   the several countries  inter-alia  aimed at enhancing political ties, furthering diplomatic   interests,   strengthening   national   security,   foster   greater economic and investments growth, securing energy resources, deepening people-to-people ties, expanding cooperation in technology & innovation, infrastructure development and increased global influence. The details of India's strategic partnerships with these countries is at annexure-I.

India is part of I2U2 (India, Israel, the UAE and the USA) initiative which is aimed to encourage joint investments in six mutually identified areas   such   as   water,   energy,   transportation   space,   health   and   food security. It intends to mobilize private sector capital and expertise to help modernize   the   infrastructure,   decarbonise   industries,   improve   public

health   and   promote   the   development   of   critical,   emerging   and   green technologies

(b) On the sidelines of   the   G20   Leaders'   Summit   in   New   Delhi,   the leaders of India, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE and US announced an MoU on 9 September 2023, committing to work together to develop a new India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).   The   IMEEC   will   comprise   two   separate   corridors,   the   east corridor connecting India to the Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the   Gulf   to   Europe.   These   corridors   intend   to   enhance   connectivity, increase efficiency, reduce costs, secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, generate jobs and lower greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and Middle East.

An Intergovernmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) concerning cooperation for operation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) was signed on 13   February   2024.   The   main   elements   of   the   Framework   include development and management of a logistics platform, including a digital ecosystem, and provision of supply chain services to handle all types of general cargo, bulk, containers and liquid bulk in order to enable IMEEC.

The implementation of the IMEEC involves multiple stakeholders and is at an initial stage.

c) The Government has a multi-pronged approach to address security challenges in the region and ensure maritime safety.  These,  inter-alia, include Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions   (MAHASAGAR)   initiative, (an   extension   of   SAGAR   doctrine "Security   and   Growth   for   All   in   the   Region'),   Indian   Ocean   Naval Symposium   initiative,   Indian   Ocean   Rim   Association   (IORA),   Colombo Security   Conclave   (CSC)   and  signing   defence,   security   and   strategic agreements. India's commitment to the well-being and progress of nations of   the   Indian   Ocean,   including   as   first   responder   and   a   net   security provider,   is   based   on   the MAHASAGAR   outlook,   among   others.   India's objective is to promote greater prosperity in the region and of ensuring the Indian Ocean a free and open space, respecting the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

e) Among the world's largest overseas diaspora, we have brought about a transformational change in its engagement with them. The 35.4 million strong Overseas Indian community (15.9 million NRIs and 19.5 million PIOs) is an invaluable partner in the progress of the nation. The Indian

diaspora bolsters economic and cultural connections, among others, by significantly contributing through remittance, trade, investment, cultural exchanges, transfer of expertise and knowledge thereby act as a bridge to further India's national interest. A successful, prosperous, and influential diaspora is an asset. India stands to gain a lot from tapping its diaspora networks and productive utilization of  the soft power that comes from having such a flourishing diaspora. The Government's efforts are also aimed at harnessing the diaspora potential to its fullest.

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## Annexure-I

| S.   | Name of   | India's strategic                           | Objectives behind declaration of such strategic partnerships                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|------|-----------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No   | Country   | partnership with other countries since 2014 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| GULF | GULF      | GULF                                        | GULF                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 1    | Kuwait    | Strategic Partnership                       | During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuwait in December 2024, India-Kuwait bilateral relationship was elevated to Strategic Partnership. To further strengthen bilateral partnership through comprehensive and structured cooperation in key areas, including political, trade, investment, defence, security, energy, culture, education, technology and people-to-people ties. |
| 2    | Qatar     | Strategic Partnership                       | During the State Visit of visit of the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to India, an Agreement on the Establishment of Bilateral                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

|    |              |                                               | Strategic Partnership was signed on 18 February 2025, in New Delhi. The Agreement will deepen cooperation with Qatar in various fields including political, trade, energy, investment, security, culture and people- to-people ties.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|----|--------------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  3 | Saudi Arabia | Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) Agreement | During Hon'ble Prime Minister's visit to Riyadh, on 29 October 2019, strategic Partnership Council (SPC) Agreement was signed between India and Saudi Arabia, which established a high-level council to steer the India-Saudi relationship. The SPC Agreement aims to enhance the level of exchange of information between the two countries at the strategic level and deepening of mutual political trust. It harnesses synergies between the development strategies of the two countries and calls for enhancing cooperation between them in the political, economic, commercial, security, military |

|             |             |                                            | and cultural area.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-------------|-------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4           | UAE         | Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - 2017 | During the state visit of the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to India as Chief Guest at India's 68 th Republic Day Celebration, India and UAE signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to further deepen, widen and strength the bilateral relationship and people - to - people ties between two countires.                                                             |
| MENA Region | MENA Region | MENA Region                                | MENA Region                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 1           | Egypt       | Strategic Partnership                      | During the State Visit of President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to India in January 2023, India and Egypt upgraded relations to Strategic Partnership. It was to institutionalize a long-term commitment to the expanding, mutually beneficial and multifaceted bilateral relations between India and Egypt including in political, development, economic, trade, scientific, |

|               |               |                       | technological, defence, security & counter-terrorism.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|---------------|---------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2             | Israel        | Strategic partnership | During Prime Minister's visit to Israel in July 2017, the two countries raised the bilateral relationship to that of a strategic partnership. To build a broad based relationship to realise the full potential of partnership in areas of development, technology, innovation, cyber security entrepreneurship, defence and security.                                                                                                                          |
| MEDITERRANEAN | MEDITERRANEAN | MEDITERRANEAN         | MEDITERRANEAN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 1             | Greece        | Strategic Partnership | India and Greece elevated the bilateral relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership in August 2023 during the official visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister to Greece. Building on the foundation of the long-standing warm and close relationship between their countries and peoples, the Prime Ministers decided to upgrade India-Greece bilateral ties to the level of a "Strategic Partnership' to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various areas, |

|    |       |                       | including political, security and economic spheres.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|----|-------|-----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  2 | Italy | Strategic Partnership | India and Italy relations were elevated to a strategic partnership in March 2023. India considers Italy an important partner in Europe and the Mediterranean region. Italy is focusing on the Indo-Pacific and considers India a key player in the region. The strategic partnership will infuse depth and momentum across all domains of bilateral cooperation and strengthen our joint efforts to address global issues. |

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