Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Switzerland on a day-long visit, where he is likely to seek support for India’s membership to the elite 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG. He is also likely to raise the issue of black money stashed by Indians in Swiss banks.
Switzerland is the third stop on PM Modi’s five-nation tour and is considered one of its high points. He reached Geneva after a successful visit to Doha.
While leaving, he posted a series of tweets about his time in Qatar. “My Qatar visit witnessed fruitful & comprehensive deliberations that will usher a new era of strong India-Qatar friendship”.
Here is facts:
India and Qatar have signed seven agreements, covering a wide range of subjects including investment and tourism promotion.
During his visit to Qatar, PM Modi also addressed a huge gathering of expat Indians and gave them a report card on India’s economy. The quarterly figures, even as India has faced two consecutive droughts, reflect a praiseworthy 7.9% growth rate, PM Modi said.
According to one of the key agreements, Qatar will invest in India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. The government had set up the Rs 40,000-crore NIIF last year for enhancing infrastructure financing in India.
In Afghanistan, PM Modi inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam. The Prime Minister – who also visited the Indian consulate in Herat, which came under a terror attack in May 2014 — was given the Amir Amanullah Khan Award.
India has poured more than $1 billion into Afghanistan reconstruction projects and humanitarian aid, making it one of the largest donors to the war-torn country. Last month, Iran and Afghanistan had signed a trilateral agreement in Tehran to develop the Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman as a trade and transit corridor.
The Prime Minister will travel to Washington on June 6, where he will address a joint session of the US Congress and hold talks with President Barack Obama. He will also meet business leaders and address the US-India Business Council.
“PM Modi’s visit reflects significance that leaders of both nations place on our natural alliance,” US State Department told NDTV on Monday. The bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Obama will focus on climate change, security and diplomatic cooperation, the State department said.
On his way back to India on June 8, the Prime Minister will visit Mexico, where he will have extensive talks with President Enrique Pena Nieto on key bilateral issues and India’s membership bid at the NSG.
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