Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached New Delhi on Friday morning after ending his 5 nation tour to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico.
During his 5 days tour, Modi first visited Afghanistan where he inaugurated Salma Dam along with Afghanistan Prime minister Ashraf Ghani. The $290-million dam will provide up to 42 MW power to Afghanistan’s industrial hub. PM Modi was accorded with Afghanistan’s highest civilian honor, Amir Amanullah Award.
The Prime Minister started the next day with a meeting with business leaders. Modi also invoked the business leaders to invest in India. After that, went to the Emiri Diwan, where he had a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, which was followed by signing of seven bilateral agreements. These agreements include MoU on cooperation in tourism, Agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in custom matters, MoU for investment in National investment & infrastructure fund, MoU in the field of youth and sports etc. During his stay in Qatar, he visited a workers camp and shared a meal with Indian workers as well as saw the medical facilities that are being provided to them. The trip included community programme in Qatar too.
Next day, the Prime minister arrived in Switzerland, where he held a meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation Johann Schneider-Ammann, followed by a business meeting aimed towards the main issue of black money and tax evasion. India’s membership to Nuclear Suppliers Group was another major issue discussed in Switzerland and they are ready to support India’s membership to NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group).
PM Modi landed next in Washington DC for 2 days stay. He visited the Arlington Cemetery and paid tribute at the tomb of the unknown soldiers and to Indian-American astronaut Kalpana Chawla.
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama hosted lunch for PM Modi at the President’s office. The leaders of two largest democracies of the world condemned the growing menace of terrorism through a joint statement “the recent terrorist incidents from Paris to Pathankot, from Brussels to Kabul” and “resolved to redouble their efforts, bilaterally and with other like-minded countries, to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorism anywhere in the world and the infrastructure that supports them.”
Afterwards the Prime Minister attended a meeting of US business leaders and addressed the US-India Business Council. During this meeting, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced an additional $3 billion investment in India. PM Modi also addressed US congress at Capitol Hill in Washington DC, speaking on the issues ranging from climate change to terrorism, defence and security cooperation to trade and economic relationship between the two countries.
Lastly, PM Modi concluded the tour with visit to Mexico where Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announced his country’s support to India’s membership for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) after a long meeting with PM Modi including further deeping cooperation between two nations. After this, the Mexican President personally drove PM Modi to a restaurant. PM Modi gave the statement “Muchas gracias, Senior Presidente! (Thank you, Mr. President for your generous welcome).”
“Thank you Mexico. A new era in India-Mexico ties has begun and this relationship is going to benefit our people and the entire world,” Modi tweeted. “Five days, five countries! After a productive visit to Mexico, the last leg of his journey, PM departs for Delhi” spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup tweeted.
The trip that was held with an aim to strengthen the ties with these five Nations concluded on Thursday when PM left for home after completing the final leg of his five Nation tour. Besides addressing a joint sitting of the US Congress, Modi received the backing of two key Nuclear Suppliers Group members – Switzerland and Mexico – for its bid to secure the membership of the 48-nation bloc.