The Indian government has reportedly decided to push through with plans to create its own foreign aid agency, to be named Indian Agency for Partnership in Development.
India’s prime minister and ministries of home and finance have given the Ministry of External Affairs the go signal to set up the agency, the Hindustan Times says, citing government sources. The agency is expected to be patterned after the U.S. Agency for International Development, the news agency adds.
The agency would be headed by a CEO alongside an executive board, and India’s foreign secretary would serve as ex-officio chairman, according to the Hindustan Times.
Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna said the creation of the agency is part of the government’s efforts to better safeguard the country’s foreign aid investments. The agency will manage planning and execution of overseas programs funded by the government, he said.
India’s decision to push through with setting up its own aid agency comes amid a debate about its status as aid recipient, particularly in the United Kingdom, where some groups oppose the U.K. government’s decision to continue providing aid to the emerging economy.
The U.K. Parliament has backed the government’s decision to continue its aid program in India but has called for an exit strategy beyond 2015.
>> British Parliament Eyes UK Exit From India After 2015>> Anas Sarwar: UK Government Right to Continue Aid to India>> Andrew Mitchell Previews UK Aid Plan for India
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