This will manifest itself in a more multi-polar global architecture, Jaishankar said

Speaking at the virtual Asian Leadership Conference 2020 themed "Emerging geopolitics and economic landscape in Asia" Jaishankar stressed that the coronavirus pandemic has been "an additional and really serious complicating factor” in an already under-stress world.

Jaishankar further noted that the theme of the conference was "not just indicative of our changing times but eminently appropriate, given the integral connection between geopolitics and economic shifts in our continent."

Maintaining that geopolitics and economic shifts are important to drive global politics, the EAM said, "Indeed, these two developments are reflected in two key phenomena that drive current global politics: globalization and rebalancing. Both have had their own consequences and reactions. But feeding on each other, they offer an explanation for much that is happening in our contemporary world.”


EAM Jaishankar also spoke on the step that India has taken to cope up with the economic crisis posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that like other parts of the world, India is also focused on recovery.

"Our economic numbers for September and October have been encouraging and we are confident that they will only become better. However, we feel that this is also the moment to undertake ambitious reforms that would put us on a higher trajectory. Some of these have already unfolded in the domains of agriculture, labor, education, and energy,” he said.

Notably, in a major boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday has approved the introduction of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in 10 key sectors for enhancing India’s manufacturing capabilities and enhancing exports. The scheme has an outlay of Rs 1,45,980 crores over a five-year period.

Speaking in the context of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the EAM said the government has taken several measures to improve the ease of business and Atmanirbhar Bharat has become a national strategy that will take India forward.

"Recognizing the importance of employment generation, the focus on ease of doing business has further increased. As a national strategy, we are aiming for Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), one that would expand its capabilities to make a greater contribution in the global economy. We want to make in India, and make for the world,” he said.