India’s problem was not a lack of ideas but a lack of their implementation, quipped former federal foreign minister Shashi Tharoor at a programme in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The platform had been organised by the Ladies Studies Group at a city five star to discuss India’s engagement with South-East Asian nations, where Tharoor spoke along with journalist and writer Sunanda K Dutta-Ray on “Is India Looking East”.
Tharoor, a diplomat-turned politician, and Dutta-Ray discussed not only the work of ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) and SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) but also stressed on the need for a politically-strong, dynamic and resilient India.
With China almost rivaling the U.S. in terms of economy, it emerges as the single-most challenge to our country, Dutta-Ray stated. Tharoor added that if India failed to emerge, Asia would submerge.
Tharoor, a Congress MP from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, said, “India needs to focus on its strengths – its private sector, its stock market, and its business management system, all of which combined can make us a force to reckon with.”
Both Tharoor and Dutta-Ray agreed that India needed to focus on tapping the hidden potential of the North-Eastern states, as well as improve trade relations with South-East Asian countries. Also, Foreign Direct Investment needs to be encouraged to boost the economy.
When asked his opinion on the current status of West Bengal, Tharoor said it was headed for major political upheaval, and that there is a strong demand for change.
Name of Source: India Blooms