India should expand its domain of reach with neighbours: Akbar Kolkata

India should expand the scope of its engagement with its neighbours and not keep it confined to trade and commerce only, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar said today.
India's engagement with its neighbours in the recent times was ''unprecedented'' and the outcomes of these were there for everyone to see, he said at an ICC interaction here.
"Present day needs call for India's greater reach and not just merely for trade and commerce," he said.
India was able to get access to strategic resources, Akbar said referring to recent acquisition of stake in Abu Dhabi's hydrocarbon resources by paying USD 600 million for a 10th of one of the country's biggest offshore deposits.

On the Rs 11,400-crore PNB fraud, he said that the Centre was quick on ''follow up action'' and raids have been taking place and FIRs are being filed.
''The government is following up on the issue. Action has been extraordinary. In fact, instead of asking the government you should ask those people who opened showrooms for them (the accused),'' he added.