India through the eyes of Armenpress correspondent: Impressions from the study visit

YEREVAN, JULY 2, ARMENPRESS. In the context of global political events, the specific gravity of India, one of the most populous democratic countries in the world, is increasing. According to the International Monetary Fund, the Indian economy is the world's sixth-largest economy by market exchange rates and the third-largest by purchasing power equivalent at US$9.459 trillion. The average annual GDP growth rate over the last two decades has been 5.8%, making India one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Being one of the founding states of the influential and authoritative BRICS organization in geopolitical and strategic terms, India pays great attention to the issue of increasing its recognition throughout the world and for this purpose organizes study visits for representatives of organizations, companies, NGOs and specialized structures of many countries. 

One such visit was organized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs from June 22 to 28. During the visit, twenty-three journalists from ten countries of the Eurasian zone, including an Armenpress correspondent representing Armenia, were able to get to know India better, become familiar with its rich culture and social life, and get acquainted with its economic and foreign policy. 

The Indian side initially sought to organize the journalists' tour in such a way that during it they could get a general idea of ​​the rapidly developing India. Consequently, the routes included both tourist and cultural, political and economic components. 

The first two days were spent visiting the National Museum of Indian History, dating back to ancient times, a museum with rich exhibits that testify to the multi-layered and rich culture of India. Excursions to Humayun's tomb followed this, Qutub Minar and the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, which is truly a unique and brilliant example of architecture, and it is no coincidence that attracts the attention of millions of tourists.

According to UNESCO, the number of visitors to the Taj Mahal reaches about 10 million per year. India is a unique open-air museum, home to many historical monuments, complexes and forts. One of them is the Golconda fort in Hyderabad, which was also included in the program of visits by foreign journalists. The surviving parts of the fortress speak of the glory and power of the dynasties that once ruled India. It is of great historical value. 

The visits of the Eurasian delegation included both non-governmental organizations and government departments. In recent years, India has made quite significant progress in the field of information technology, and, using the latest technologies, is conducting extremely important research in the field of climate. From this point of view, very interesting visits were organized to the companies “RwNew Power” and “T-Hub”. India is a desirable partner for many countries in the healthcare sector. Indian pharmaceutical products are in great demand in many countries around the world. Journalists who visited Hyderabad were convinced of this by visiting the company “Dr. Reddy’s Lab”, and getting acquainted with the production of medicines. 

Being one of the world's superpowers, India naturally cannot remain aloof from such an important area as space exploration. Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace is a company that assembles, integrates, and tests small satellite prototypes. On November 18, 2022, India's first private rocket, Vikram S, was launched. The company's founder and CEO, Pawan Chandana, introduced the delegation members to the functions of the company and, in particular, the successful cooperation with Armenia.

In India, the role of women in the socio-political and socio-economic life of the country is increasingly increasing. Specialized organizations are dedicated to protecting women's rights and promoting their careers. In this context, the visit of journalists to the organization “FCCI-FLO” turned out to be very interesting, where the status of women in society is valued and very important.

With events in and around India constantly in the spotlight of the international community, the challenge of providing meaningful information comes to the fore. Press Trust of India is a news agency based in New Delhi covering 80% of local news and has a unique style and tradition. Members of the delegation who arrived in India had a professional conversation with the agency’s editor-in-chief Vijay Joshi and learned more about the opportunities and working conditions of the media.

Meetings held in government departments formed the basis of the foreign journalists' tour. In particular, meetings were held at the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, where important issues related to the operation of international logistics corridors were discussed in detail. Issues related to global security and strategic cooperation of some countries with India were discussed with a senior representative of the Ministry of Defense. The country's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar personally received journalists, with whom important geopolitical and regional issues were discussed during the meeting.

Well, what would India be without cinema, Bollywood and TV series, which are popular worldwide, including in Armenia. The last destination of the delegation of journalists was the huge Ramoji film studio with its varied and colorful stands and facilities created for filming. Cinema is also considered a means of self-expression, tells the story of a given country, and has great ideological significance. Therefore, the film industry in India is treated with high regard.

In general, such visits are very important because guests get the opportunity to get to know India better and discover a new India. 

Manvel Margaryan