MEA to open its Branch Secretariat in Chennai on Aug 25

Chennai, Aug 23 (UNI) The Ministry of External Affairs will open its Branch Secretariat in the city on August 25 to facilitate better liaison and interaction with the Ministry on issues concerning external relations, foreign trade, FDI and cultural exchanges.

The Branch Secretariat, the third one after Kolkata and Hyderabad, would be inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Regional Passport Officer, Chennai, Sumathi Ravichandran told newspersons here today.

The opening of the Branch Secretariat would fulfil the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu and other Southern States, she said.

Its main objectives would be to advise the state government on issues concerning promotion of overseas trade and investments, facilitate political clearances for State Government delegations on foreign visits, coordinate with State Protocol for visits by foreign dignitaries, undertake outreach activities aimed at promoting understanding of the country's foreign policy, facilitate visits and meetings of visiting Ambassadors/High Commissioners/Consul Generals with local officials and day-to-day functioning of foreign consulates/honorary consulates located in the city, she said.

Besides, it would also act as a facilitation centre for South Indians in trouble or in need of assistance overseas by getting in touch with the High Commission there, she added.

Ms Ravichandran said the Ministry's move assumed significance, considering the fact that nine Consul Generals, two Deputy High Commissioners and 28 Honorary Consuls were located here.

She said the Branch Secretariat, functioning under her, would initially have jurisdiction in Tamil Nadu and in Kerala and Karnataka at a later stage. ''It would adopt a need-based approach. To start with, we have been given a broad outline. Depending upon the need, it will be either modified or diversified.'' An Under Secretary from Delhi and some Secretariat staff would be deployed at the office. ''It is an evolving office...As and when there is a need, we will recruit people,'' she added.

UNI