A greater focus on the immediate neighbourhood predicated on connectivity with Bimstec rather than Saarc as the focus area, and using foreign policy to facilitate new markets were some of the priorities spelled out by new foreign minister S Jaishankar. In his first public remarks after he became the surprise choice for the MEA portfolio, Jaishankar defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to Bimstec leaders for his swearing-in, saying that while there were certain problems with Saarc, the former grouping of countries had energy.