India External Affairs Minister targets Southeast Asia

India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, is to tour three Southeast Asian countries this month, highlighting the region’s importance to the world’s sixth largest economy.

Mrs Swaraj will visit Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore during a five day trip, in which economic ties and defence will be discussed, the Economic Times reports.

Mrs Swaraj will also meet the new ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi in Indonesia.

According to The Straits Times, she will also seek to ‘woo the Indian dispora’ in ASEAN during a conference in Singapore aimed at promoting ‘greater economic, cultural and diplomatic cooperation between India and Southeast Asia.’

The Minister’s itinerary, available in full on the Indian Government website, will see her arrive in Thailand on 4 January, before flying to Indonesia on 5 January. She will arrive in Singapore for a three day visit on 6 January.