PM wants IFS to help boost exports

Narendra Modi says focus should be on expansion of trade and commerce, and technology transfer

A day after telling parliamentarians to showcase a strong India to the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the 2012 batch of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) probationers to project the country’s full trade and commerce potential globally as they took up their assignments.

The goal, he explained to the young officers who had called on the prime minister as an annual ritual, was to give a boost to exports from India. Replying to the Presidential address in Parliament on Wednesday, Modi had underscored the importance of exports from India, ranging from organic food to skilled people including teachers.

The focus should be on the expansion of trade and commerce, and technology transfer, Modi told the 29 officers. Zero-defect manufacturing and packaging and presentation are among the areas that Modi highlighted, to grow India’s exports. He gave the example of Indian herbal medicines, which he said were among the best in the world, “but are lagging behind Chinese products due to poor packaging”, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. Also, Indian handicrafts have not been presented properly to the world, Modi is learnt to have said.

While telling the officers to be catalytic agents to convey the strengths of India to the world, Modi stressed that they should be well-acquainted with India’s history, and its historical links with other countries of the world. They should also motivate the Indian diaspora to take pride in India, the prime minister said.

Soon after the interaction, Modi's tweet said, "had a great exchange of ideas with probationers of 2012 IFS Batch. Encouraging to see this batch having largest number of lady probationers." Out of a total of 29 IFS probationers, 12 were women. "Wished my young friends the very best as they go to represent India globally. Also urged them to strengthen relations with the diaspora."

National security advisor Ajit Doval, principal secretary to the PM Nripendra Misra, foreign secretary Sujatha Singh were also present at the interaction.