Prime Minister Modi has embarked on a two-day visit to South Korea, from 21st to 22nd February. In addition to several bilateral meetings, PM Modi will be conferred with the prestigious Seoul Peace Prize.
“Acting East”: from policy to action!
PM @narendramodi arrives in Seoul, Republic of Korea, his 2nd visit after the State Visit in May 2015. During the visit, PM will have bilateral & business engagements, unveil Gandhi bust & accept the Seoul Peace Prize conferred upon him. pic.twitter.com/x8uzRXk6IJ
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 21, 2019
Prime Minister Modi was announced to be the recipient of the award last year by The Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation, for leader’s contribution “to high economic growth in India and world, through ‘Modinomics'”. The Award Committee had found PM Modi ‘perfect candidate’ for the award, after assessing around 1300 names.
The award also recognizes PM Modi’s efforts in changing lives of 1.25 billion people of India and promoting economic cooperation with other countries, in accordance with the ‘Modi Doctrine’ and the Act East Policy. The committee had also praised PM Modi’s diplomatic efforts in Asia-Pacific region, to promote international cooperation. The committee had also praised PM Modi’s anti-corruption initiatives like demonetization.
PM Modi will be presented with a plaque, award and an honorarium sum of $200,000.
PM Modi is the fourteenth recipient of the award. Past recipients include Kofi Annan the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon the eighth-secretary-general of the United Nations, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and organizations like Doctors without Borders.
The Seoul Peace Prize was established in 1990, to emphasize the commitment of the Korean people towards maintaining peace in the Korean peninsula and the rest of the world. It is a biennial award given to people who make significant efforts for the harmony of mankind and promote reconciliation between the nation.
In January, this year, PM Modi was conferred with first ever Philip Kotler Presidential award for outstanding leadership. Last year, The United Nations had also awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emanuel Macron with 2018 ‘Champions of the Earth Awards’. PM Narendra Modi was lauded for his “unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.”