New Delhi: Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar refuted U.S. President Joe Biden’s assertion that “xenophobia” was impeding India’s economic progress, as reported by The Economic Times on Saturday.
Jaishankar, speaking at a round table organized by the newspaper on Friday, emphasized that India’s economy “is not faltering” and underscored the nation’s historical openness. “That’s why we have the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), which is to open up doors for people who are in trouble… I think we should be open to people who have the need to come to India, who have a claim to come to India,” Jaishankar stated, referencing a recent law facilitating citizenship for immigrants fleeing persecution in neighboring countries.
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Earlier in the week, Biden had commented that “xenophobia” in China, Japan, and India was hindering growth in their economies, while highlighting the positive impact of migration on the U.S. economy. “One of the reasons why our economy’s growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants,” Biden remarked at a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign, coinciding with the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected last month that growth in Asia’s three largest economies would decelerate in 2024 compared to the previous year. Conversely, the IMF forecasted a 2.7% growth rate for the U.S. economy, slightly higher than the 2.5% rate recorded last year. Many economists attribute this optimistic outlook in part to migrants bolstering the country’s labor force.
