Brexit is not protectionist, it is about sovereignty: Envoy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14

Alexander Evans, British Deputy High Commissioner to India, clarified that Brexit was not a protectionist measure. “We had led the way, along with liberalised economies, in 1980s. We will be more open than many of our competitors. We are in favour of free trade,” he said.

Evans, who was at University Business School (UBS), PU, today, added, “Brexit is about sovereignty. It is like you (India) will not accept a SAARC parliament overruling Indian Parliament and SAARC Supreme Court rendering a decision regarding a law in India.”

Prof Deepti Gupta, Dean, International Students; Prof Deepak Kapoor, Chairman, UBS; and Andrew Ayre, British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh, were present on the occasion.

“If you are a Chinese diplomat, you will spend a considerable time with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). You will have a different experience as compared to Indian diplomats. I don’t say they are better. Italian diplomats spend two years studying diplomacy and two weeks on protocol. They will make you feel special. British diplomats will learn more from their seniors,” Evans added.

Speaking on the value of strategy in life, he said, “The art of generating strategic document is important.

“It may not protect you from enemy. Strategy may not survive when it comes in contact with reality.”

“Strategy is exciting. It is the biggest “gup shup”. I think the process to prepare it is painful. Companies and even governments have policy making units. You have to be strategic if you are running something. Think about what type of job you want to do and not about the post,” he said.

He laid stress on the importance of literature, philosophy and science fiction in handling challenges.