INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2016
- India extends USD 1 million immediate aid to cyclone hit Fiji
India has extended one million dollars as immediate assistance to Fiji, which was hit by a severe cyclone. According to the External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup, the island nation was hit by the cyclone Winston which brought with it wind gusts of 325 kilometres per hour and waves up to 12 metres high, flattening crops and decimating villages completely.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the super-cyclone has reached 29. People are sheltering in evacuation centres. There's considerable damage across the main island Viti Levu and the island of Koro, which were directly hit by strong winds.
As aid efforts intensified, communications were established with some of the worst-hit remote communities, revealing the scale of the disaster. Officials say the Pacific nation's recovery from the devastating storm could take months.
Power is gradually being restored in the main centres and roads cleared of felled trees. The international airport at Nadi also reopened yesterday, allowing international tourists caught up in the disaster to return home. - India approves $150 million Iran port plan
India approved a $150 million project to develop the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar, which includes a transit route to Afghanistan bypassing neighbouring Pakistan, a government statement said on 24th February.
India signed a multi-million-dollar memorandum of understanding with Tehran last May to develop the port on its southeastern coast, but the deal had been stuck since. The approval came at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The statement said the project would “provide opportunities to Indian companies to penetrate and enhance its footprint in the region,” adding: “Cabinet approves provision of credit of $150 million USD to Islamic Republic of Iran for Chabahar port development. - Now, e-visa for tourists from 37 more nations
Electronic tourist visas (e-TVs) will be extended to citizens of 37 more countries from 26th February onwards, taking the total number to 150. The new additions are Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Iceland, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Namibia, Romania, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Trinidad & Tobago, Zambia and Zimbabwe
TVoA (tourist visa on arrival), enabled by electronic travel authorisation, popularly known as the e-tourist visa scheme, was launched on November 27, 2014. Since then, more than 7.5 lakh such visas have been issued. At present, on an average, 3,500 e-TVs are granted daily. - MoU between ICG, PMSA extended
The MoU between Indian Coast Guard, ICG, and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, PMSA, has been extended. This has been done mutually through diplomatic channels for the period of further five years from 17th of March this year.
External Affairs Ministry said, MoU envisaged cooperation between ICG and PMSA through exchange of information on EEZ violations, apprehended vessels, marine pollution, natural disasters/ calamities, combating smuggling, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and piracy and coordination in search and rescue and return sea passage.
It also established a communication link which is operational. Under the provisions of the MOU, Directors General of ICG and PMSA meet periodically. The MOU, signed on 3rd of October in 2005, had come into effect on 16 March 2006. - Sri Lanka govt sets up Joint Working Committee on proposed ETCA with India
Sri Lanka government has announced setting up of a Joint Working Committee with representatives from 45 professional bodies to take their views on the proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement with India.
According to the officials of the Ministry of Development Strategy and International Trade, a group of professional met the Minister, Mr Malik Samarawickreme, who is negotiating the treaty on behalf of Sri Lanka, and expressed concerns over the treaty.
The Joint mechanism will have professionals including doctors, engineers, architects, IT professionals and nominees from business chambers. In a bid to attract more private investment from India, Sri Lanka government is keen to sign the ETCA this year. Sri Lanka is the biggest trade partner of India in the SAARC region with 3.2 billion dollar annual bilateral trade.
The Joint Commission meeting co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers in Colombo earlier this month had agreed to organize workshops in Colombo to educate people on the benefits of the treaty and to remove misgivings in certain sections. - India, Nepal sign seven accords
India and Nepal signed seven agreements on 20th February at a summit meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepal counterpart K.P. Sharma Oli, even as leaders of the Madhesi people in Nepal threatened one more blockade.
According to the Nepal Prime Minister Mr.Oli both sides were determined to avoid the disruption of Nepal’s transit facilities as experienced over the past five months. Referring to Nepal’s dependence on India for receiving essential commodities, Mr.Oli said without naming Madhesi protesters, “Unscrupulous elements should not be allowed to abuse the open borders between Nepal and India”.
According to the Nepali sources that differences persisted between India and Nepal over how to address the aspirations of the blockade-enforcing Madhesis, the “unscrupulous elements” in Mr.Oli’s speech. During the talks, the Indian side reportedly displayed a different understanding of the “unscrupulous elements”.
Highlighting the differences over the Madhesi population on the India-Nepal border, a senior official said, “By unscrupulous elements, we refer to the fake currency racket, and other such elements in that region that hurt Indian security”.
Though both the sides tried to address the grievances of the pro-blockade agitators by agreeing to build a road network in the Madhes region, the leaders of the Madhesis are planning more agitation.
Meanwhile, more than two dozen Madhesi students from Nepal, arrested on 19th February, were remanded in judicial custody in Tihar jail. The students were arrested by the Delhi police when they tried to reach the embassy of Nepal where Mr.Oli was attending a public reception. - India pledges 250 million dollars for post-earthquake re-construction in Nepal
India has pledged 250 million dollars for post-earthquake re-construction in Nepal. An MoU in this regard was signed between Foreign Ministers of both countries after the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.
100 million dollars will be utilised for construction of 50,000 houses in 14 severely affected districts. 50 million each will be utilised in health, education and cultural heritage sectors in 31 earthquake affected districts of Nepal.
Nearly 9,000 people were killed in the earthquake and aftershocks in Nepal last year. Nearly a million houses and buildings were damaged. India and Nepal also inked nine agreements in fields like road infrastructure, arts and culture and railways. Besides, Mr Modi and Mr Oli inaugurated 400 KV Muzzafarpur- Dhalkebar transmission line. - India, UAE energy ties to grow following Sheikh Mohamed's visit
The cooperation between India and the UAE in the energy sector is expected to grow following the visit to India of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, beginning on10th February.
The visit comes six months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to strengthen bilateral ties and increase investments between the two countries.
A number of new agreements are likely to be signed, including on oil and gas and renewable energy, as part of the Abu Dhabi crown prince's visit, Gulf News, a UAE-based daily, said.
A memorandum of understanding already exists between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, (Adnoc), and the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve. India is seen as an important customer for UAE oil and the cooperation could stretch to UAE investment in developing energy reserves of gas and oil in India," Gary Dugan, chief investment officer at Emirates NBD
India imports about 270,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with the UAE being the sixth-largest supplier of the commodity to India. - India, UAE sign agreements
India and United Arab Emirates, UAE, on 11th February signed key agreements in the sphere of cyber security, infrastructure, renewable energy and finance. The pacts were inked after talks between visiting Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi
Earlier, the Crown Prince called on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan. During the meeting, Mr Mukherjee said, India looks forward to working together with UAE to achieve the target of 75 billion dollars investment by the gulf country in its infrastructure sector.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UAE in August last year, the two countries had set a target of investing 75 billion dollars in India's infrastructure including through India-UAE Infrastructure Investment Fund.
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in total signed nine agreements covering cooperation in the fields of currency swap, culture, investments in the infrastructure sector, renewable energy, space research, insurance supervision, cyber security, skill development and commercial information sharing.
The Ministry of External Affairs initially announced four agreements but revised the list later adding five more agreements. - India, UAE reaffirm their resolve to increase trade by 60% over next 5 years
India and United Arab Emirates, UAE, has reaffirmed their resolve to work together to increase trade by 60 percent over the next five years. A joint statement issued in New Delhi today said the two sides examined various tariff and non-tariff barriers and agreed to enhance the trade of priority commodities and expand the access of goods and services in both markets.
India and the UAE discussed their plans for infrastructure development. The Indian side highlighted the experience and expertise its companies had acquired in infrastructure development, including in power generation and transmission, civil construction, railways and metros, hospitals, airports, housing and roads.
The UAE noted its interest in investing in infrastructure development in India, especially in priority areas such as railways, roads, ports, and shipping.
Both the countries further agreed to exchange information on various investment opportunities and related incentives and to exchange information on financial, legal, and administrative incentives.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan held wide-ranging discussions Thursday and exchanged views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest and reached a broad consensus.
They agreed to enhance cooperation to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean region, which is vital for the security and prosperity of both countries. - India, Australia agree to strengthen energy ties
India and Australia have agreed on enhancing cooperation in clean coal technology, renewable energy and LNG. Power, Coal and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal met his Australian counterpart Josh Frydenberg on the last day of the India-Australia Energy Dialogue in Canberra on 10th February.
According to Goyal the two countries resolved to further strengthen the ties in energy, technology & innovation and skill development. The two countries also talked about proposed Free Trade Area (FTA). Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb said yesterday that both Australia and India have agreed to conclude the FTA by first half of this year. - India approves more projects in Afghanistan, inks pact for visa-free travel for diplomats
India on 1st February approved the third phase of development projects India is carrying out in Afghanistan. These projects are part of the 92 small-scale programmes that India had previously approved in an effort to strengthen bilateral strategic and commercial ties. The approvals have come when Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of Afghanistan, is on a five-day private visit to India. On Monday, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj separately.
Both countries also inked an agreement that granted visa-free travel for diplomats.
During their meeting, Modi and Abdullah Abdullah discussed the recent terrorist attack on the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif on January 4-5, a couple of days after the attack on the Pathankot Air Force base.
Modi also “expressed deep gratitude” to the Afghan government, especially the National Security Forces of Afghanistan, “for their bravery and sacrifice in order to protect the Indians” during the consulate attack, stated a release issued by the PMO.
He also reiterated India’s “commitment to extend all possible support to the efforts of the Afghan people in building a peaceful, stable, prosperous, inclusive and democratic country,” the release added.
India recently gave three multi-role Mi-35 helicopters to Afghanistan to combat terrorism. It has also committed a grant of $2 billion for the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. - India, UK sign two bilateral advance pricing pacts
India has signed two bilateral advance pricing agreements (APAs) with the United Kingdom in its efforts to provide certainty and stability in tax policies to foreign investors.
The two bilateral APAs were signed with two Indian group entities of a UK based multinational company,” said the Central Board of Direct Taxes on 1st February, adding that they address the issues of payment of management and service charges and payment of royalty.
Under the pacts, the two Indian companies will now have tax certainty for 12 years each (five years under mutual agreement procedures and seven years under APA). Transfer pricing disputes for each of the two companies on the same transaction were also resolved with the tax department under MAP for the years 2006-07 to 2010-11, said the CBDT.
The Finance Ministry had introduced APAs, which allow for prospective agreements between the tax payer and the tax authority over transfer prices, in 2012 through the Finance Act, 2012.
India had also signed a bilateral APA with Japan in December 2014. The total number of such pacts signed by the country is 41 out of which 38 are unilateral and three are bilateral. Tax experts welcomed the move and said that management charges and royalty payments have been a contentious issue in transfer pricing. - India, Brunei agree to boost defence ties, ink three pacts
India and Brunei signed three memoranda of understanding to cooperate in the fields of defence, health and youth affairs & sports. The representatives of both the countries signed the documents in presence of the visiting Vice President Mohd Hamid Ansari at capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Minister of State for Home, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhari was also present during the signing ceremony.
Defence ties between India and Brunei dates back to many decades. The latest MoU is to consolidate the relationship and institutionalise them, besides expanding its scope. In health sector, it is proposed to use India’s space technology expertise in diagnostics, exchange of medical professionals and pharmaceutical regulatory practices.
The Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah has agreed to pay an official visit to India in the near future. Vice President Ansari summed up his visit in the community reception saying, it was successful and that India has got some takeaways from the tour. - India, Thailand laid roadmap for boosting ties
India and Thailand have laid a roadmap for further strengthening bilateral ties including in the defence sector. The two countries expressed their shared interest in securing international sea lanes. Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari who is on a visit to Thailand, held talks with Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and said he sees a very promising future for the bilateral relation of the countries. - Telangana inks trade pacts with Ontario
Ontario Province, Canada and Telangana on 4th February inked a slew of MoUs in the areas of education, infrastructure, IT and research.
Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, who spoke at a plenary session attended by Ontario delegates and representatives from Indian companies and institutions, said generating trade, jobs and economic growth for both regions is the intent.
The key pacts include the new manufacturing unit to be set up by Datawind, joint venture between Astra Microwave Products Limited and Vaughan, Ontario-based broad based systems. It will provide broadcasting services, satellite uplinking and medical imaging products to India and other regional markets.
Another MoU between IIT, Hyderabad and Hamilton, Ontario-based McMaster University to generate opportunities to create intellectual property through innovation and to commercialise research outcomes was signed.
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