THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, DELHI

• Hon’ble Governor of Bihar, Lt. General Syed Ata Has nain Ji,

• Vice Chancellor, Nalanda University, Prof. Sachin Chatur vedi Ji,

• Distinguished faculty members, experts and Dear Students

The relationship, between foreign policy, and national development, has undergone a significant transformation. Traditionally, diplomacy was understood, primarily through the prism of political relations, strategic security, and the management, of India’s external environment. 

These remain, fundamental responsibilities. But in an increasingly interconnected global economy, diplomacy has acquired, another important dimension. It has become, an instrument, through which countries, secure markets, attract investment, access technology, build resilient supply chains, and create opportunities, for their people.

This broader understanding of foreign policy, is rooted in the principle of national interest. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, has observed, “Our foremost guiding principle, in foreign affairs is, our national interest.” He has also emphasised, that this approach, allows India to engage, with different nations, while respecting mutual interests, and recognising the complexities, of contemporary geopolitics.

The meaning of national interest, however, is itself evolving, and now extends, beyond the traditional concerns of sovereignty, security, and strategic autonomy. 

This is particularly relevant, to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat. India’s development over the coming decades, will depend, not only on, what we build within our borders, but also on, how effectively we connect, our capabilities, with the global economy. 

Therefore, the task of diplomacy, is to create the external partnerships, that allow India to participate, in these flows, on terms that strengthen, its own economic and technology capabilities.

My years in the diplomatic service, including my tenure as India’s Ambassador to the United States, reinforced this understanding. Some of the most consequential conversations, in a bilateral relationship, are not necessarily, those, that receive the greatest public attention. 

They often concern, investment decisions, technology partnerships, research collaboration, supply-chain resilience, access to markets, and the movement of talent. These are areas, where foreign policy, and domestic economic priorities, increasingly intersect.

The India-US relationship, provides a useful illustration. Over the past decade, the relationship has expanded considerably, beyond its traditional strategic, and security dimensions. It has turned into a partnership.

Cooperation now encompasses, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, critical and emerging technologies, space, defence, clean energy, education, and advanced manufacturing. The India-US initiative, on semiconductor supply chains, for instance, seeks to facilitate investment, joint ventures, technology partnerships, research, and development, and the development of skilled talent. 

The significance of such cooperation, lies, not simply, in the value of an investment, or the signing of an agreement. Its larger importance is, in building domestic capacity.

A semiconductor ecosystem, creates requirements for engineers, technicians, research institutions, component manufacturers, logistics providers, and specialised services. The diplomatic relationship, therefore creates, an enabling framework, while the economic ecosystem, within India, converts that framework, into productive capacity.

The same principle, can be observed across, India’s major partnerships. Japan’s engagement with India, has evolved from, infrastructure cooperation, towards broader collaboration in manufacturing, technology, and global value chains. India’s partnerships with France, encompass advanced technology, space, defence, clean energy, and innovation. The Gulf countries have become increasingly important partners, in investment, energy, logistics, food security, and emerging technologies.

The nature of these relationships, is changing, because the nature of economic power, itself is changing.

Investment today follows, not only markets, but also technological ecosystems, infrastructure, skills, and institutional capacity. 

Manufacturing decisions, are increasingly influenced, by the reliability of supply chains. Technology companies look at access to talent, and research capabilities. 

Energy-intensive industries, require predictable access, to power. Consequently, the diplomatic agenda, increasingly has to understand, these economic, and technological considerations.

This is also why, supply-chain resilience, has become an important element, of India’s external economic policy.

The disruptions of recent years, demonstrated the vulnerability, of concentrated production networks. India has an opportunity, to become an important part, of the diversification of global supply chains, but resilience cannot mean isolation. It has to mean, the ability to remain, internationally integrated, while developing sufficient domestic capacity, to manage external disruptions.

The objective, therefore, should be greater integration, with greater resilience. This requires a different understanding, of economic diplomacy. The purpose is, not merely, to bring foreign capital, into India. It is to ensure, that capital contributes, to manufacturing, research, skills, domestic supplier networks, and higher-value activities. 

Similarly, technology partnerships, should not remain arrangements, for technology acquisition, alone. They should progressively strengthen, India’s ability to absorb, adapt, and develop technology.

This is particularly important, as India enters areas, that will define the next phase, of global economic competition- artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnology, space, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and digital infrastructure.

Diplomacy has an important role, in creating these knowledge partnerships. Universities, research institutions, laboratories, and companies, increasingly operate through, international networks. Indian researchers, need access to, global research, ecosystems, while international institutions, increasingly recognise the value, of India’s talent, and scientific capabilities. The same applies to students, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. International engagement, can therefore create, pathways for knowledge, expertise, capital, and technology, to move across borders.

The connection between diplomacy, and development, is therefore, not linear. It is an ecosystem.

This becomes particularly important, in an international environment, characterised by greater economic interdependence, alongside greater geopolitical uncertainty. Countries are simultaneously seeking, strategic autonomy, and dependable partnerships. India has responded to this environment, by developing relationships, across different regions, and groupings, while retaining the flexibility, to pursue, its national interests. 

The recently concluded BRICS Summit, in New Delhi, in this context, provides one example. India’s BRICS Chairship, created platforms for cooperation in areas with a direct bearing, on economic development, including resilient supply chains, critical minerals, technology, start-ups, digital infrastructure, science, and innovation.

Such diversification of partnerships, is not a contradiction. It can itself become, an element of resilience. For India, the objective is, not to place, its developmental interests, within any single partnership, or grouping, but to create multiple avenues, for investment, technology, markets, knowledge, and economic cooperation.

At the same time, diplomacy cannot substitute, for domestic reform. International engagement, can create access, but domestic institutions, must create the conditions, in which, that access can be effectively utilised. 

The value, of a technology partnership, ultimately depends, on our capacity to absorb, and adapt, that technology. The value of an investment, depends on the quality, of our infrastructure, skills, and regulatory environment. And the value of access, to global markets, depends on, the competitiveness, of Indian enterprises.

This is where diplomacy, becomes a catalyst, rather than an end, in itself. Its effectiveness, is ultimately measured, by how successfully, international opportunities are converted, into domestic capabilities, productive employment, and greater economic resilience.

International capital will come, where infrastructure, skills, regulatory predictability, and market opportunities, are available. 

Technology partnerships, will generate value, where research institutions, and industry, have the capacity to absorb, and develop, that technology.

This is why, Viksit Bharat, cannot be separated, from India’s own institutional, and human capacity.

For India, credibility as a partner, will increasingly depend, on the ability to deliver, on commitments, maintain predictable institutions, and demonstrate, that international partnerships produce, mutually beneficial outcomes.

There is also a broader point, about the changing nature, of India’s global role.

India is no longer, engaging with the international system, simply as a country, seeking access to resources, and markets. It is increasingly, contributing ideas, technologies, platforms and institutional experiences, of its own.

India’s digital public infrastructure, its experience with large-scale digital payments, its space capabilities, its growing start-up ecosystem, and its experience in delivering, public services at scale, are examples of areas, in which, India can contribute, to international partnerships.

This is where diplomacy becomes, a two-way process.

India must remain open, to capital, technology, knowledge, and markets, from the world, while also taking, Indian capabilities, enterprises, and ideas, to the world.

For Delhi, this relationship has particular relevance. As Lieutenant Governor, I see the national capital, not only, as the seat of government, but as an important centre, of India’s international engagement. Delhi brings together, diplomatic missions, universities, research institutions, businesses, start-ups, and international organisations. A globally connected capital, has to be capable of supporting, the institutions, and people, who make, that international engagement, possible.

Ultimately, the success of diplomacy, should be understood, through the capabilities, it helps, India build.

An agreement becomes, meaningful, when it strengthens, an industry. An investment, becomes consequential, when it creates, productive capacity and employment. A technology partnership, becomes valuable, when it develops, Indian capabilities. A trade relationship, becomes sustainable, when Indian enterprises, become, more competitive, in global markets.

This is the point, at which foreign policy, meets the everyday economy.

The vision of Viksit Bharat, is therefore, not separate, from India’s engagement, with the world. It is, in many respects, dependent upon it. India’s domestic transformation, will require access, to global capital, technology, knowledge, energy and markets, while India’s growing economic capabilities, will in turn, strengthen its position, in the international system.

Foreign policy creates, external space. Domestic capability, converts that space, into development.

And when the two move together, diplomacy becomes, not merely, an instrument of statecraft, but a catalyst, for national transformation.

Thank You.

 Jai Hind.