Indian diaspora's confidence has grown manifold since NDA assumed office: Swaraj

Asserting that the confidence and trust of the Indians residing abroad have gone up manifold since the NDA government assumed office, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said the top leadership had in the very beginning decided to hold meetings with the Indian diaspora during foreign visits.

Giving a detailed account of the progress made in the foreign affairs front since the NDA government assumed office, Swaraj said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the major Islamic nations in the gulf has immensely benefitted the economy.

"Every time we went out, whether me, the other ministers or the Prime Minister we made it a point to interact with the Indian community. On the Prime Minister's visits, the interaction was on a very large scale like Madison Square and Wembley. When we visit, we meet the Indians living abroad and listen to their problems," she said.

"The confidence of the NRIs has gone up immensely since our government took over. Now, an Indian abroad can proudly say he or she is an Indian," she added.

The External Affairs Minister further said there has been a constant endeavour on the government's part to reach out to as many countries as possible and enhance diplomatic ties.

"We have decided to reach out to almost all countries in the world with help of representatives of various state governments, Cabinet Ministers and others," she said.

"Prime Minister Modi in the last 10 months covered UAE, Saudi Arab, Iran and Qatar successfully for boosting economic ties," she added.