India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is The Straits Times Asian of the Year 2014.
The editors of the paper picked the development focused Indian leader, who fashioned an impressive election victory for his party in the national election that ended in May, from a rich field of contesting names.
The Straits Times' choice of Mr Modi as Asian of the Year was based on several factors. Politically and socially, he has energised India with his stirring calls for a development focus and "toilets before temples". On the economy, his call for a Make in India campaign, if pursued to its logical conclusion with a friendlier investment climate and less rigid labour norms, could help fire up the growth engines of the US$2 trillion economy and provide welcome ballast to the region when China, the No. 1 Asian economy, is slowing and Japan, the No. 2, is in recession.
Mr Modi is the first Indian prime minister born after the nation's independence in 1947. Despite being relatively new to the job he has already made a mark on Asia, reaching out to neighbours and receiving national leaders including Australia's Tony Abbott and China's Xi. In January, he will receive US President Barack Obama. He also had a highly successful visit to Japan for a summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Mr Warren Fernandez, editor of The Straits Times, said: "Last year, when we named President Xi and Prime Minister Abe as joint winners, we recognised the two leaders' commitments to fulfil national aspirations. At the same time, the award came with the call to both to work together to lower tensions and to consider a summit meeting. We were gratified that the two finally shook hands and sat down together in November."
For the same reason, Mr Fernandez added, the award to Mr Modi is as much a recognition of his record as an administrator who has propelled his home state, Gujarat, to global attention, as for the promise of re-energising larger India."
"I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on this award. It reflects high expectation all round, not just from within India, on his stirring leadership to bring decisive reforms to his country. In my interactions with PM Modi over the years, I have been impressed with his pragmatism, bold ideas and determination to get things done. PM Modi is also keen to impart dynamism to the strategic partnership between Singapore and India. We welcome and join him in this endeavour."
- Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
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