Latest news with #VisionMahasagar
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First Post
5 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Philippines, India envisage deeper ties amid global uncertainty
Marking 75 years of ties, India and the Philippines seize the moment to align strategic priorities, boost defence and maritime cooperation, and deepen regional and global coordination read more Philippine President Marcos Jr's visit to India from August 4 to 8 was encouraged by the India-Asean Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Drawing strength and inspiration from this broader engagement, the visit elevated India-Philippines bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership. India's partnership with the Philippines has emerged as a strategic pillar of the 'Act East' policy, Vision Mahasagar, and India's broader Indo-Pacific engagement. As the two countries commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, this juncture presents a timely opportunity to align their strategic priorities, expand defence and maritime cooperation, and enhance coordination on regional and global issues of mutual concern. With the Philippines set to assume the Asean Chairmanship next year, the partnership acquires added geopolitical relevance, offering scope for closer collaboration in shaping an inclusive, rules-based regional order. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There have been four presidential-level visits from the Philippines to India — President Ferdinand E Marcos in 1976 (stopover visit); Presidents Fidel Ramos in 1997; Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2007; and Rodrigo Duterte in January 2018. From India, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited the Philippines in 1981, President R Venkatraman in 1991, President Abdul Kalam in 2006, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2007, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017, and President Ram Nath Kovind in 2019. The intervals among the visits have been eloquent. The Philippines is among the original five founding countries of Asean. It was among the most closely aligned to the US. This had kept it at a distance from India. Physically also, it is also the furthest of the Asean countries from India. However, as the Indo-Pacific concept has emerged, it has brought India and the Philippines together due to their shared perceptions of the Indo-Pacific. On his arrival in India at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Marcos said that the transition from the Asia-Pacific concept to the Indo-Pacific has guided the Philippines' engagement with India. There is also growing momentum from the Philippines to collaborate with India on a South-South cooperation model, particularly in development and capacity building. India's development partnership, proven in several Global South countries, is now gaining traction in the Philippines. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme has expanded, with more training modules and quick-implementation projects now being deployed. These initiatives, commonly used in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), are being adapted to forge a deeper India-Philippines partnership. Quick-impact projects, each valued at $50,000, are currently being implemented in agriculture, disaster management, healthcare, and livelihood support. The Indian diaspora in the Philippines, numbering over 70,000, is concentrated in major cities and includes a growing number of professionals in Indian and multinational firms. Additionally, nearly 10,000 Indian students are pursuing studies in the Philippines, especially in medical and technical fields. In contrast, there were only 36 Filipino students in India as per the 2022 Aishe survey. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Philippines will now become the ninth Asean member state to enjoy direct flight connectivity with India. Besides raising tourism facilitated by visa-free offers, this development could positively impact India's image in the Philippines. According to the 2025 State of Southeast Asia Survey, Indian education and tourism are not yet viewed as major draws in the Philippines. Improved connectivity can help change this perception. Although trade and investment have traditionally formed the bedrock of India's engagement with Asean, economic ties with the Philippines have remained relatively modest. Among the 10 Asean member states, the Philippines ranks sixth in trade volume with India. In 2023–24, bilateral trade stood at $3.5 billion, with Indian exports valued at approximately $2 billion and imports from the Philippines totalling around $1.5 billion. Pharmaceuticals from India account for 16 per cent of the Philippines' total pharmaceutical imports. Meanwhile, the Philippines exports semiconductors, ores, electrical machinery, and plastics to India. Opportunities exist to expand bilateral trade further through regional value chains, especially involving Japanese and Australian firms operating in the Philippines. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Seafarers are a commonality between India and the Philippines and another contributor to maritime security. The Philippines has the largest number of seafarers, and India is in the top three. This provides a basis for closer collaboration for their security and welfare. President Marcos thanked India for the rescue of their seamen during a Houthi rebel attack in 2024 in the Gulf of Aden. The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025 has interesting features regarding popular opinion in the Philippines. India is not considered a strategic player in their perception. India is ranked 9 out of 10 dialogue partners of Asean in the opinion of Filipinos. Yet when it comes to trust, China is ranked poorly in the Filipino mind, with 69 per cent having little or no confidence. Yet 36 per cent of Filipinos are confident that India will 'do the right thing' to contribute to global peace, security, prosperity, and governance. Trust levels of India among Filipino respondents to the survey have risen from about 20 per cent in 2024 to 40 per cent in 2025. These statistics have a tale to tell on how India and the Philippines can organise and institutionalise their partnership based on trust and mutuality of interests. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As aforesaid, the Philippines will chair Asean in 2026, ensuring a visit by PM Modi for the Asean and East Asia Summit in Manila. Every Asean Chair has created a new initiative in recent years. In 2023, Indonesia held the Asean Indo-Pacific Forum. In 2025, Malaysia held the Asean-GCC-China trilateral. India should work with the Philippines as Asean Chair to create an interaction that brings the stature of India ahead. Perhaps an Asean-Quad Forum? The writer is the author of 'The Mango Flavour: India & Asean after 10 Years of the AEP'. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Modi names Malaysia key partner in India's regional strategy
KUALA LUMPUR: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described Malaysia as a vital partner in India's Vision Mahasagar and Act East Policy, underscoring its strategic importance to the region. In a posting on his personal X account @narendramodi, Modi said he met his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the 17th Brics Summit in Brazil. Modi said they reviewed the ground covered in bilateral relations, including the progress made since Anwar's visit to India last year. "Bilateral ties are growing strongly in futuristic sectors like IT, renewable energy and infrastructure. (We also) discussed how to improve investment and trade relations between our nations," he said. Modi announced Vision Mahasagar or "Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions" for the Global South during his visit to Mauritius on March 12, this year. The Mahasagar vision builds on the Sagar (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy that Modi first announced during his visit to Mauritius in 2015. Sagar has guided India's engagement with the Indian Ocean region over the past decade. Anwar arrived in Rio De Janeiro on Saturday to attend the 17th Brics Leaders' Summit hosted by Brazil. Malaysia participated in the summit in its capacity as a Brics partner country and 2025 Asean chair. The summit marks the first gathering among heads of state and government from Brics member and partner countries. The Brics group, which serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries of the Global South and collaboration across diverse sectors, was initially established by Brazil, Russia, India and China. It later expanded with the inclusion of South Africa in 2011, followed by Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2023. Indonesia officially became a full member in January 2025 while 10 countries comprising Malaysia, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria, Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda and Uzbekistan were accepted as Brics partner countries at the summit. — BERNAMA
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
PM Modi, Mauritian counterpart reaffirm commitment to deepen strategic partnership
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (June 24, 2025) spoke with his Mauritian counterpart, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, as the leaders stressed the unique and special ties between India and Mauritius and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the 'Enhanced Strategic Partnership' between the two nations. In a telephonic conversation, they discussed the ongoing cooperation across a broad range of areas, including development partnership, capacity building, defence, maritime security, digital infrastructure, and people-to-people ties, an official statement said. PM Modi appreciated the wholehearted participation of Ramgoolam in the 11th International Day of Yoga, it said. PM Modi reiterated India's steadfast commitment to the development priorities of Mauritius in line with Vision Mahasagar and India's Neighbourhood First policy, it added.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ties warmer, PM Modi may make 1st Maldives trip of Muizzu era
Ties warmer, PM Modi may make 1st Maldives trip of Muizzu era NEW DELHI: India is favourably considering an invitation by the Maldives for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the strategically important Indian Ocean country in July, TOI has learnt. This follows a strong reiteration of President Mohamed Muizzu's 2024 invitation to Modi by Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Khaleel during his visit to India last week. While it's too early to talk about the programme or agenda, it is learnt that one of the dates being considered for Modi's visit to the archipelago is July 26, the Maldives Independence Day. If it happens, it will be the first visit by Modi to the country since Muizzu assumed office in November 2023. Khaleel was in India last week for the third time this year, signalling an intent on the part of the Maldives to deepen ties with India amid concerns both here and in the West about its ties with China. Along with his counterpart S Jaishankar, Khaleel reviewed bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including the development partnership, defence and security, and trade and investment. Jaishankar said after the meeting that India remained committed to Maldives's progress and development. He also thanked Khaleel for the solidarity with India on the issue of terrorism. Muizzu has continued to strongly maintain that the Maldives will not do anything to hurt India's security interests and that his decision to force Indian military personnel out of the country was based purely on the Maldivian people's desire for independence and non-interference in internal affairs. In an interview to Ceylon Today last week, the president said the Maldives will not allow its geographical location to be misused by any country for deliberate attempts that undermine peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. "Our approach will always be for regional peace and sovereignty, and fair diplomacy with everyone," he said. India sees Maldives as a key maritime neighbour and an important partner in its Neighbourhood First policy and Vision Mahasagar (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). According to the Indian external affairs ministry, the visit was aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership between the two countries. As Prime Minister Modi and Muizzu had said in a joint statement after the latter's visit to India in October 2024, this partnership will be people-centric, future-oriented and will act as an anchor of stability in the Indian Ocean region. Among the big takeaways from that visit was a significant decision to initiate discussions on a Bilateral Free Trade Agreement focusing on trade in goods and services between the two countries.
