Section in MEA to boost states' efforts to woo FDI, push

A section was recently created in the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate with the states and union territories to further facilitate their efforts to promote exports, tourism and attract more overseas investment and expertise, the government said today.
Th objective of the States Division in the MEA is to coordinate facilitation of efforts in these areas between Indian Missions or Posts as well as UT and state governments and foreign diplomatic and trade missions here, Minister of State for External Affairs Gen V K Singh said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
It also aims to assist states and UTs by sharing with them, when required, the MEA's experience and expertise through training and capacity-building in areas relating to external linkages of trade, investment, cultural and other such areas.

The Division is headed by a Joint Secretary and will help better coordination and facilitation of the efforts of the states and union territories in promoting their linkages abroad, Singh said.