Experts to attend seminar on foreign policy

Bhubaneswar, Jan 5: Experts on foreign policy will attend a two-day seminar on Indian Foreign Policy and Strategic Issues here today. The seminar is being organised by Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in association with Utkal University in Bhubaneswar.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be the chief guest and preside over the inaugural session of the seminar. The seminar will see the participation of a large number of academicians, think tanks, representatives of industry, intelligentsia, journalists, civil society and senior officials. The seminar will discuss issues related to India"s Look East Policy, International terrorism and security issues and trade, investment and the WTO. Eminent persons with expertise in above issues have been invited to share their views and insights.

There will be a brainstorming session on “Indian Foreign Policy: A view from Orissa" between the MEA officials, outside experts and the local academicians, researchers and officials on Sunday.The Public Diplomacy Division of MEA has been in contact with researchers, think tanks, academia, civil society and industry, both within India and abroad, to highlight the contours of Indian foreign policy, as well as initiate debate and discussion within the wider public about the key foreign policy issues confronting India.

It is in furtherance of these objectives that the Public Diplomacy Division is organising this seminar to get an Orissa centric view on the opportunities and challenges confronting India with regard to the issues being discussed in the seminar.

ANI