New Delhi: China may have been a growing economy and one of the major powers in East Asia region but India is set to outdo its communist rival with the promise of a blooming economy and flying peoples aspirations. The 'Elephant is about to fly', is widely believed across the globe. Coupled with foreign policy initiatives by the government it has reflected positively not just in the Indian sub continent, barring a few, the outcomes have been instrumental in establishing goodwill across the globe.
The 'Look East' policy has many Asian giants collaborating and willing to partner in India's growth story. South Korea is one of them. Its a country which is not just a technology driven economy but its society, culture, arts, tourism, and people power to transform a completely eroded nation to a modern democracy does not have many parallels. Walking the path of progress together has struck the chord between New Delhi and Seoul.
South Korea cannot be missed in the overall growth dimensions of East Asia. At an interaction at Foreign Correspondents Club, Ambassador Cho Hyun emphasised that issues of bilateral trade, defence and economics between South Korea and India have seen convergence with the two countrys' relationship going up another level. With a population of 16 million people, a small country, it shares a similar history with India. As legends say Princess Suri Ratna of Ayodhya sailed to South Korea to marry Kim Suro and the Kim dynasty is believed to have its origin from Indian state's royality. Colonial past, year of independence, freedom struggle, are significant indicators of common thread of a common bond. With the present governments' rest assured, common collective objectives are set to take off as well.
'Swacch Bharat' high on Modi government's agenda Koreans have lots to offer. Urban development and clean city concept is something that Koreans have mastered deligently. Korean government gave high impetus to city development and planning, roping in private partners ensuring providing infrastructure, resources to pitch in with their expertise of construction, planning and execution which was looked as a business module and opportunity by the private sector. India will do well on taking cues from South Korea in furthering Clean India mission and city planning.
Ambassador Hyun said, 'Korean economy has developed most recently and more importantly without any expansionist or colonising policy,' like India . Although India and South Korea suffer from a nasty neighbour the two countries are well aware of the improtance of maritime needs. He informed that the Maritime Business Week held in Mumbai 2015 had South Korea as single partner company with India. 700 Korean institutions attended the summit and many contracts in maritime security and related sectors were signed.
Capitalist and consumer oriented society, Korean companies are the ultimate name in technology. Equally they have been immensely successful in India. Ambassador Hyun informed that Hyundai produced 70,000 automobiles in its Chennai plant and exported them last year. Samsung has the largest research centre in India in collabration with IITs. Samsung T7, the most advanced mobile phone was made and developed in India. More projects are in the pipeline.
Development and prosperity is directly proportional to peace and congenial relations. Korea is one of the few countries in the world that does not hold threat to any country. The East Asia tech giant is peaceful and industrially advanced, more focussed on providing better quality of life to its people. With its presence in the region be it in defence collabration, intelligence, or security, India's neighbours do not feel strategically threatened by SK's presence anyways.
Although bilateral ties between both Asian countries have been growing largely there are still areas of contentious cooperation, SK Ambassador said. With troubled neighbourhood as common issues between both India and SK there is a long way to go. Much room to work towards maritime security issues.
The contentious issue of India's membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group is what India is trying to lobby for hard and strong. As of now the US support is a silver lining and Japan promising its backing as well. The Swiss, with PM Modi exercising his persuasuve skills, have come on board too. The next summit of NSG being hosted by Seoul after Vienna will see some fireworks as well. With China expected to veto India's membership of the prestigious NSG which is the sole body that controls nuclear commerce, Ambassador Hyun has assured Seoul's support in the backdrop of India's clear track record of nuclear proliferation. He said, 'India deserves to be the member of NSG as Korea believes India has had a track record and deserves to be admitted in it'.
China in a retaliatory mood equates India to Pakistan demanding Pakistan's membership to the NSG on the same grounds as that of India. In the latest meet between Chinese Premier and President Obama at the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue held in Beijing, the signs from China have been far from positive. It is also doubtful that the Chinese will relent in return of a more liberal economic engagement even though it is seeing itself standing isolated on the issue.
Like never before both governments of India and South Korea are more than willing to address common problems staring in their face with mutual collabrations including MoU's on Defence, maritime security and intelligence signed between both governments when PM Modi visited Seoul May 2015.
The two democracies also have a lot of scope for people to people contact and cooperation, said Ambassador Hyun. He informed that International Film Festival being held in Goa this year will have South Korea as partner country.
Connectivity between SK and India is something that needs attention. The absence of frequent flights to Seoul or other business centres in Korea from New Delhi and vise versa is just not adequate to enhance tourism or trade. Till lately barely 6 flights operated to Korea from India per week which have been increased to 19 per week now, a good news for Korea lovers. Contrarily the number of flights operating from India to China number to 900 per week.
Another area where India suffers is as an eductaion destination. Korea has a strong diaspora. A great number of students go out of Korea to study as well. The largest number of students from Korea go to China numbering 50,000 per year. With about 70,000 going to US uptill a couple of years back, China has now taken lead in Korean students intake. India, although known for its good universities and institutions of higher learning, is not able to attract students from offshore. One of the main reasons being bad publicity about the country. Koreans feel Indian media is responsible for it to a great extent. Extensive media coverage of crimes on everyday basis, wanting security of women and students are attributed as major reasons for India not attracting Koreans as well as international students. As an expatriate stated what happens in India (negative publicity) is news though what happens in US is not. In this regard Korean establishment is working towards projecting India into a student friendly destination as much as a tourism haven.
At one time in history North and South Korea being one state, are presently the most heavily militarised borders in the world. Perpetually at loggerheads with each other SK's political dispensation hopes of becoming a unified country and are working towards it although North Korean leader Jong Hun has been aggressively furthering its missiles technology testing it frequently at the other side.
South Korea desires to take its India relations to work on peaceful coexistance in the East Asia region with impetus on intelligence cooperation and maritime security to start with as these are the key areas that challenge the growth and development of the two peaceful nations.
