Global Recognition

Ever since assuming office on 26th May 2014, the Government of India has pursued a foreign policy that has believed in actively engaging with the world and at the same time inviting the world to come and invest in India. Under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, India has strengthened the bonds of friendship with existing friends and created newer avenues of cooperation with many other nations.


On May 26th 2014 as Prime Minister Modi and the Council of Ministers was taking oath, seated in the audience were all the SAARC heads of State. This included President Karzai (Afghanistan), PM Tobgay (Bhutan), President Yameen (Maldives), PM Koirala (Nepal), PM Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan) and President Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka). PM Sheikh Hasina was already on a pre-decided tour of Japan, which is why the Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament represented Bangladesh. The next day the Prime Minister held extensive bilateral talks with these leaders.


Shri Modi's vision and commitment for a strong SAARC has been seen repeatedly. His first ever visit to outside India after taking over as PM was to Bhutan, where he addressed the Bhutanese Parliament and several agreements were inked to strengthen India-Bhutan cooperation. He became the first PM to go to Nepal on a standalone bilateral visit in 2014, where again key progress was made on strengthening India-Nepal ties. The Prime Minister visited Sri Lanka in March 2015 to cement India-SL ties. This came a month after President Maithripala Sirisena visited India, his first visit after taking charge as the President of Sri Lanka in January 2015. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has also visited India in September 2015.


A historical feat was achieved in India’s ties with Bangladesh during PM Narendra Modi’s visit in June 2015 when the Land Boundary Agreement was ratified by the two nations. Bus services between two nations, that would deepen connectivity were also flagged off. In April 2016 the Prime Minister welcomed President Yameen to India and the two leaders held extensive talks on India-Maldives.
The Prime Minister has attended several key summits ever since he took office. In July 2014, the PM joined the BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (Brazil), where he met the BRICS leaders to chalk out the roadmap ahead for the BRICS Nations. In a major development, the BRICS Bank was formed and India was given the first Presidentship of the bank.


In September 2014 the Prime Minister addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations, during which he highlighted the ways in which India can contribute to the world and emphasized on the importance of global peace. He made a clarion call to the world to unite and mark one day as the International Day of Yoga. This took shape in December 2014 when 177 nations came together and passed a resolution that declared 21st June as the International Day of Yoga.


Under the NDA Government, relations with the G20 group have been strengthened. Shri Modi attended the G20 Summits in Australia (2014) and Turkey (2015). At the G20 Summit in Brisbane, the PM put great emphasis on the repatriation of black money and strongly highlighted the evils that the menace of black money can cause. This intervention was very important during the summit deliberations, also highlighting the importance the Government attaches to the issue.


Attaching high priority to relations with ASEAN, PM Narendra Modi attended ASEAN Summits in Myanmar (2014) and Kuala Lumpur (2015) where he met top Asian leaders. All the leaders he met were very enthusiastic about the Government’s ‘Make in India’ programme.


In November 2015 PM Narendra Modi attended the COP21 Summit in Paris where the top world leaders came together to discuss climate change. Shri Modi emphasised on climate justice and the need to create a cleaner and greener tomorrow. He affirmed that both development and environment can go together and urged the world to rise to the occasion and protect the planet. At the COP21 Summit, PM Modi and President Hollande unveiled the International Solar Alliance, the coming together of several nations blessed with abundant sunlight. The Alliance is a sincere effort to create a greener planet. In March 2016 he joined the Nuclear Security Summit, hosted by President Obama where he shared his thoughts on nuclear security and peace.
Shri Modi has devoted immense focus to every region of the world. His 3-nation tour in March 2015 to Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka focused on the Indian Ocean. In Seychelles the PM inaugurated the coastal radar project, which has been set up with India’s help. He also joined the ceremony of the commissioning of the Barracuda, which is another token of India-Mauritius cooperation.


In April 2015 the PM visited France, Germany and Canada. This visit was aimed at better cooperation with European Nations and Canada. In France a record 17 agreements were signed including substantial progress in nuclear energy and defence. In Germany the PM and Chancellor Merkel jointly inaugurated the Hannover Messe and the PM also visited a Railway Station in Berlin to get a first hand view of railway modernization. Skill development was another focus area in Germany. In Canada the focus was on economic ties, energy and even cultural cooperation. His visit to Canada was historic as it was the first standalone visit by an Indian PM to Canada in 42 years.


The Prime Minister has made key efforts to strengthening ties with the Eastern neighbours of India. He made an important visit to Japan in August 2014 during which the two nations agreed to cooperate extensively in areas like industry, technology and the smart cities project of the Government. In May 2015 the PM went to China, where he was accorded a very special welcome in Xi’an, which was for the first time that a world leader had been welcomed outside Beijing. He also went to Mongolia, becoming the first ever Indian PM to visit Mongolia. The other destination he visited was South Korea, where he met leading CEOs, visited a shipyard and made a strong pitch for investors to invest in India.


In July 2015 Shri Narendra Modi travelled to five Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. His central Asia visit marked a paradigm shift in India’s relations with the region. From energy, culturual ties to deeper economic cooperation, the issues that were discussed were very extensive. The Prime Minister recognises India’s long standing ties with West Asia and has undertaken numerous efforts to enhance them. In March 2016 PM Narendra Modi went to Saudi Arabia. He met top Saudi leaders and businesspersons in a visit aimed at boosting diplomatic and economic relations. In a remarkable gesture, Shri Modi visited the L&T labour camp and shared snacks with those working there. He expressed his admiration for their hardwork and lauded their determination. In August 2015 Shri Modi had embarked on a historical visit to UAE, where many areas of cooperation were talked about.


India has welcomed key world leaders as well. In January 2014 USA President Barack Obama came to India as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day Parade. PM Modi and President Obama jointly addressed Indian and American business leaders and even held wide-ranging talks. PM Tony Abbott visited India in September 2014 and in the same month President Xi Jinping visited India, where PM Modi welcomed him in Gujarat. President Putin of Russia made an important visit to India in December 2014, where nuclear and trade ties were extensively discussed.


Shri Modi has been engaging with the Nations of the Pacific islands as well. During his Fiji visit in November 2014 the PM met leaders of all Pacific Island Nations and the leaders deliberated on various issues to enhance India’s bond with the region. The same year leaders of African Nations graced Delhi for a Summit. In the last one year the PM has met Arab Leaders, discussing ways in which India can cement their ties with the Arab World, a region that has always been a great friend of India’s.


Whenever the PM travels overseas, his schedule is packed with meetings and key visits that are aimed at transforming infrastructure and investment back home. Themes like energy, manufacturing, investment, skill development, and infrastructure have been common threads in every visit and each visit has brought in something new for the people of India to cheer about.


The work of the NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been profusely lauded by leading international bodies for the policies that have initiated the wheels of change in India.

The World bank expressed hope that India is expected to grow at a phenomenal pace of 6.4% in 2015-16 as against a 5.6% in 2014-15. The World Bank added that this is linked to what they called ‘the Modi dividend.’ The World Bank added that investment is set to pick up due to the government’s policies and even the declining oil prices.


The positive sentiment has been echoed by the President of the World Bank, Mr. Jim Yong Kim. Mr. Kim said that "strong visionary leadership" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resulted in "extraordinary effort" by India on financial inclusion of its people. He even praised the Jan Dhan Yojana, the effort of the Government of India towards financial inclusion.

The International Monetary Fund pointed that due to the reform drive by PM Modi and the declining oil prices, the Indian economy will grow faster than what is expected and will even outplace China. The IMF also linked the reforms to rising investor confidence.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has opined that the economic reforms in India are poised to put the Indian economy on a strong, sustainable and inclusive growth path. This again points to the reformist zeal of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The leading and respected global agency, Moody’s has upgraded India’s rating outlook to “positive” from the previous “stable.” This is again seen as a major boost for investors and a thumbs-up to the reform drive of the Prime Minister and his team.

A similar optimistic response on India’s growth came from the United Nations, whose mid-year update on the World Economic Situation and Prospects puts India’s growth above 7% for this year and the next year.

Thus, the reformist zeal of the Prime Minister and the quick pace of the wheels of reforms have drawn the attention of the world, which is appreciative of India and optimistic about the Indian economy.
“The colour of one’s passports may be different but there is nothing stronger than the bond of humanity” – this is what PM Narendra Modi has said repeatedly and turned into reality whenever any tragedy has struck. When the conflict in Yemen reached its peak there were people of several nations stuck on the conflict zone. The Government of India left no stone unturned to rescue people, not only Indian but of several Nations. Several Nations sought India’s assistance in rescue operations and the scale and speed at which India’s rescue operations was unprecedented and highly impactful.






India’s swift and extensive response was monitored at the highest levels. External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj was constantly monitoring the situation. Minister of State for External Affairs Shri VK Singh went to Yemen and Djibouti, personally spearheading the operations. When Nepal was struck by a disastrous Earthquake on the morning of 25th April 2015 India did everything possible to share the pains of the sisters and brothers of Nepal. The Indian Armed Forces, disaster management teams and topmost officials were on the spot to help in return of normalcy. The Prime Minister himself chaired high-level meetings to monitor the situation. At the same time, India did everything possible to rescue people from quake-affected Nepal, both Indian and foreign Nationals.




These efforts were appreciated at the world stage. When Shri Modi met world leaders be it French President Hollande, PM Harper they lauded India’s efforts in relief and rescue operations. Israel’s PM Netanyahu lauded India’s efforts in a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister.Mr. Richard Verma, the USA Ambassador to India too praised the role of India.

In February 2015 Father Alexis Prem Kumar returned home after a long period of eight months in captivity in Afghanistan. Father was an aid worker devoted to doing his work but inhuman elements had other plans. He was abducted but for months there was an impasse over his release. Finally, the Government succeeded in bringing Father home and reuniting him with his family. The family was ecstatic and thanked the Central Government and the Prime Minister for the release.

Similarly, Indian nurses who have been stranded in various parts of the Middle East have been rescued by the Government. None other than Shri Oommen Chandy, the Kerala Chief Minister thanked the Centre for the Centre’s efforts to bring nurses back from Iraq.

This is how the Centre has time and again showed when in times of crisis, the bond of humanity matters much more than the colour of one’s passport.
The Hannover Messe is regarded as one of the world’s largest and most prestigious industrial fairs with people from all over the world converging at this German city to see what the world’s top manufacturers have to offer. In 2015, India became a partner country at the Hannover Messe.


The Messe was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. India’s soft power and the rich potential that India has to offer to invest were displayed at the Hannover Messe. The ‘Make in India’ pavilion was spectacular, showcasing the ethos and changes on the ground that make India an attractive investment destination. The various States of India had their pavilions, which were widely appreciated.


In his speech the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi expressed joy that in the very first year of the BJP-led NDA Government India has got the opportunity to become a partner Nation in a forum as prestigious as the Hannover Messe. He highlighted the steps taken by the NDA government in their very first year in office to make business easier, to make the tax systems simpler and to create an environment that attracts foreign investment.

During his bilateral visits, a lot of world leaders have told Mr. Modi that they are very optimistic about ‘Make in India.’ This included PM Najib Razak of Malaysia, PM Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, PM Abbott of Australia, PM Abe of Japan, President Hollande of France, PM Harper of Canada.

In the last one year, the PM’s efforts to create a positive atmosphere about India, making and investing in India have yielded rich results with the world’s eyes now firmly drawn to India and the vast opportunities here.
They left Indian shores but their love for India remains. The Indian diaspora is one of the most vibrant and successful communities on the world stage, perfectly blending with the local customs and traditions of the Nations they settle in, even contributing to their development. At the same time their hearts still beat for India and have helped India whenever the need arose.





Shri Narendra Modi has always remained popular among the diaspora, who viewed him as an agent of change who would transform India. During every overseas trip, the Prime Minister makes it a point to connect with the diaspora. From Madison Square Garden in New York City to the Allphones Arena in Sydney, from Seychelles and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean to Shanghai, Narendra Modi has received a rockstar-like reception from the Indian community.


The Prime Minister’s speeches are extremely aspirational, in which he talks about the winds of change blowing in India, the efforts of the Government to bring about a positive change in the lives of the people and highlights the role of the diaspora in India’s growth. A much needed reform was been the PIO and OCI merger, that has been hailed by the diaspora all over. In many places the relaxation of Visa norms and simplification of processes was hailed.


Apart from the community receptions, the Indian community welcomed Shri Modi at the airports and during the various events he attended. Cheers of ‘Modi Modi Modi’ were very common in overseas events that the Prime Minister attended. In one of the events, at the World War I memorial in France, the Prime Minister asked the people not to do so and instead chant, “Shaheedon Amar Raho” (long live our brave martyrs).


The Prime Minister realizes the crucial role of the diaspora and continues to engage with them for the development of India.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September 2014 the Prime Minister called for the world coming together and observing an International Day of Yoga, a fitting tribute to the glorious tradition of Yoga that has its roots in India.



In December 2014 the United Nations accepted this proposal with 177 Nations coming together and supporting the proposal to declare 21st June as the ‘International Day of Yoga.’ The 177 Nations included Nations from all over the world, spanning across all continents.


The declaration of 21st June as the ‘International Day of Yoga’ will go a long way in making Yoga more popular across the world. Prime Minister Modi himself is an ardent practitioner of Yoga, describing Yoga as a wonderful merger of Gyan, Karma and Bhakti and a means to achieve both ‘Rog Mukti’ and ‘Bhog Mukti.’ Infact, as Chief Minister of Gujarat he had inaugurated a specially dedicated Yoga University to make Yoga more popular among the youth.
Narendra Modi Watch on MAN KI BAAT