The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in collaboration with the Government of Rajasthan, on Thursday organised the Videsh Sampark Programme in Jaipur to strengthen coordination between the Centre and the State on diaspora engagement, consular services, safe migration and international cooperation.
The programme was co-chaired by Secretary (CPV & OIA), Sripriya Ranganathan, and Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas. Senior officials from the MEA and the Rajasthan government, the Regional Passport Officer, Jaipur, business leaders, recruiting agents and representatives from the education sector also participated in the event.
The discussions covered a wide range of issues related to the welfare of the Indian diaspora, with particular emphasis on the safety and well-being of Indian nationals abroad, including students. Participants also deliberated on the Ministry’s initiatives relating to consular, passport and visa services, collaborative efforts to promote safe and legal migration and mobility, and opportunities to enhance business, investment, employment and international engagement for Rajasthan.
The interactive sessions provided a platform for the MEA and the Rajasthan government to strengthen institutional coordination and share best practices. The participants explored ways to streamline procedures, improve inter-agency cooperation and identify areas where the Centre and the State could work together to ensure the effective implementation of diaspora-related schemes and initiatives.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The discussions focussed upon strengthening coordination between MEA and the State Government of Rajasthan in the spirit of cooperative federalism to foster diaspora engagement, support to Indian students abroad, promote safe and ethical migration and to promote trade and investment ties.”
Launched by the MEA in 2017, the Videsh Sampark Programme is an outreach initiative aimed at fostering closer engagement with State Governments and Union Territories on issues relating to the Indian diaspora, consular services and international cooperation.
Since its inception, the programme has been organised in collaboration with the governments of Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Tripura, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh. The MEA said it remains committed to expanding the initiative and will continue engaging with other States and Union Territories in the coming years.
