Use 'national security filters' in biz: EAM

In an era of leveraging and weaponisation of trade and business, policymakers have to use "national security filters" for economic decisions, including those related to investments, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Monday.

- HT Correspondent

Though Jaishankar did not directly refer to any country during his speech at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2024, his remarks appeared to be aimed at China, with which India recently agreed on steps aimed at ending the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

"Like it or not, we are increasingly in an era of leveraging, if not of weaponisation. Policymakers, therefore, have to place national security filters when it comes to economic decisions, including those of investment. This is the trend the world over and we would ignore it at our own peril," Jaishankar said while speaking in a session with the theme of "India and the world: Partnerships for progress".

The digital era has intensified the need to forge trusted partnerships and data is "much bigger than just the new oil", while AI will transform the way people live, work and think. "This has consequences across the board, including understandably how to develop the requisite capacities," he said.