As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed back to his country after a watershed visit to the US, a question impossible to ignore followed in his wake: Just how meaningful was this visit for India? The answer wears shades of grey and white. From his bold speech at the United Nations General Assembly to his unmistakable brand of crowd management at the erupting Madison Square Gardens and his talks with US President Barack Obama and other US legislators and corporates, Modi did well for India in the way he conducted himself, particularly in the way he carried his sense of political vindication — given that he was not welcome to the US until not so long ago. Modi clearly spelled out his good intentions for Indo-US collaboration in areas of mutual interest such as trade, security, climate change and investment.
The novel joint newspaper editorial by Obama and Modi in the Washington Post (republished in Gulf News today) said all the right things and in doing so, offered no surprises. The bonhomie was hard to miss, as was the lack of a big-bang announcement that had the potential to instantly redefine Indo-US ties and thus mark a milestone moment. The Modi-Obama meeting will be remembered for its Kodak moments of amicable diplomacy that hold the promise of an improved chemistry between the two countries, particularly given the recent period of mutually abrasive engagement that marked their ties. America’s hard-nosed need to act rather than talk and Modi’s avowed love for performance over politics points to a syllogistic outcome for Indo-US relations. But not before the Modi administration revitalises crucial areas of cooperation such as policy reforms, investor sentiment, state of the bureaucracy and a more conducive business environment for foreign firms. It can start with revamping its appallingly tortuous visa processing systems.
It is imperative that India be seen as country that is easy to do business with. Modi’s oratory alone, unfortunately, will not make that happen. As one American economist observed this week, India needs to prove that it understands the importance of minimum government and maximum governance. Modi has often claimed that he is a graduate from that school of thought. He now needs to prove it.
