Thank you dear subscribers, we are overwhelmed with your response.
Your Turn is a unique section from ThePrint featuring points of view from its subscribers. If you are a subscriber, have a point of view, please send it to us. If not, do subscribe here: https://theprint.in/subscribe/
PNG is a nation born of difficulty, and we can learn from it. Papua New Guinea was a colony of Australia 50 years ago and was celebrating its 50th Independence Day in Sept when I happened to be there. India had sent the INS Kadmatt, among other nations, to celebrate the occasion.
Attending the 2nd Special Economic Zone summit, I realized we could learn from PNG. They are not a rich country and suffer from similar problems – lack of employment opportunities, corruption, and underdeveloped infrastructure (their 2 largest cities are not connected by a solid road, being on the same island). PNG has similar opportunities – a young population, FDI interest, and mineral wealth (okay, maybe they have more mineral wealth than India).
But the difference in attitude between the Indian and the PNG government was day and night. Their Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru outlined what they had achieved in the 50 years since independence went on to say they had not done everything right, that there was a lot more to be done, and that they will learn from their mistakes and chart a better course for the future – all this without blaming any political opposition, but while taking full responsibility.
In contrast, GoI takes every opportunity to blame past governments (Nehru, UPA) and chest-thump about the progress we’ve made only in the last 10 years. No doubt we have made progress in the last 10 years, but there have been great missteps as well. Everything is a master stroke, unless it’s a mistake, which is when it’s the past government’s fault. Except for demonetization, we don’t talk about demonetization.
Did you notice the difference in approach? In one word, humility. Which, if you think about it, gives you so much space to maneuver if you mess up. But project yourself as a strongman, and all you can ever do is right.
India imports about USD $140 million worth of ore concentrate from PNG, among other bulk commodities. Maybe we can include some humility in the next bulk shipment.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.