Prime Minister's video conference with the Heads of Indian Missions
March 30, 2020
Prime Minister Shri Narendra
Modi held a video conference with the Heads of all of India’s Embassies and
High Commissions worldwide at 1700 hrs today. This conference—the first such
event for Indian Missions worldwide—was convened to discuss responses to the
global COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister noted that extraordinary times require extraordinary solutions,
which was why even in this globalized era, most of the world had quarantined
itself. This was an unavoidable step taken to fight this pandemic, but it was
also hugely consequential, as the closure of the globalized system has had an
extensive and far-reaching impact upon the international transport system,
financial markets and the global economy.
Prime Minister said that India had taken unprecedented and early steps in
response to this pandemic from mid-January this year, to reduce the risk of
importing the infection, and thereafter to prevent a large outbreak. This
included the world’s largest quarantine and lock-down, implemented by India.
The Prime Minister complimented Heads of Missions for their efforts to evacuate
Indians stranded abroad in some of the epicentres of the crisis. He also
exhorted them to take steps on five specific counts:
I. To ensure their own health and safety, and that of their teams and families;
ii. To attend to Indians who remain in various foreign countries, given the
uncertainty of continuing international travel restrictions. He called on Heads
of Indian Missions to help boost the morale of such compatriots abroad, and to
help them address issues arising from their unplanned stay abroad, with their
host Governments, and also to address other problems Indians might face abroad,
including arranging shelter, where necessary and feasible;
iii. To stay alert and identify in their countries of accreditation best
practices, innovations, scientific breakthroughs and sources to procure medical
equipment, for India’s fight against COVID-19. He also advised Heads of Mission
to suitably publicize the newly-established PM-CARES Fund to mobilize donations
from abroad;
iv. Since this crisis also impacts upon the economy, PM advised Heads of
Mission to also focus on ensuring that commerce in essential supplies,
logistics chains, remittances and so on are unaffected, through their
coordination with foreign partners;
v. To continue to pay close attention to the evolving international political
and economic situation, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, ten Heads of Mission, in Beijing, Washington DC, Tehran, Rome,
Berlin, Kathmandu, Abu Dhabi, Kabul, Male, and Seoul offered their perspectives
to PM and the rest of the audience. They shared feedback regarding appreciation
in their countries of accreditation of the resolute measures taken by India to
combat this pandemic.
Heads of Missions outlined their efforts to help Indians stranded abroad, in
particular, students and workers. They also reported efforts to identify
medicine, medical devices, technologies, research and other measures which
might help in India’s own national effort to fight this pandemic. Heads of
Mission also reported lessons learned in other countries, and their best
practices, in the global fight against COVID-19. In our neighbourhood, Heads of
Mission underlined measures to assist the national responses of those
countries, using the special fund created at India’s initiative for SAARC
countries to combat COVID-19. The Heads of Mission also expressed gratitude for
the guidance and inspiration from PM for their work.
In conclusion, Prime Minister emphasized that India’s Missions abroad may well
be far from home, but they remain full participants in India’s fight against
COVID-19. He emphasized that the unity and alertness of all Indians would help
safeguard the nation’s future.
New
Delhi
March 30, 2020