INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS JUNE 2015

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS JUNE 2015

• India, Nepal amend bilateral Treaty of Transit
  India has agreed to Nepal's request for allowing the movement of vehicles imported from a third country into Nepal through four border points by amending the bilateral Treaty of Transit. Nepal had requested India for the move citing the requirements of additional handling facilities, special carriers and equipment which added to the cost and time of clearance of vehicles from Kolkata port into Nepal.
  
  According to an Indian Embassy press release in Kathmandu on 22nd June, movement of vehicles from a third country destined to Nepal through Indian Territory on their own power, will be allowed. The matter was also discussed between the two governments in the third meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission held in Kathmandu on 25-26 July last year.
  
  According to the press release, the movement of vehicles on their own power to Nepal has been allowed through Raxaul-Birgunj, Jogbani-Biratnagar, Sunauli-Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj Road-Nepalgunj border points.
  
• India, Japan to sign pact on increasing IP cooperation
  The government on 24th June approved the signing of an agreement with Japan to increase cooperation in the field of industrial property (IP). The decision regarding this was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  
  The Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed between the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO).
  
  The purpose of MoC is to establish a framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of IP, with emphasis on capacity building, human resource development and awareness generation. The pact also aims at increasing efforts to support innovation in both the countries. To be renewed automatically every four years, the MoC will be implemented through biennial Action Plans. The first plan is ready for implementation.
  
  Areas on which both the sides will work include information sharing on IP protection systems and practices; and cooperation in the area of examination, including utilisation of the examiner-exchange programme.
  
  They will also enhance cooperation in the scheme of the Patent Cooperation Treaty; assistance in developing IP infrastructure; capacity building in the use of IT infrastructure; and awareness building for the general public. The key feature of the pact will be building awareness among the general public about the most important property rights for the 21st century.
  
  To this end, the JPO will impart training at its own cost to individuals, people in educational institutions, lawyers, corporate employees and judges, besides examiners and other IPO officials.
  
  The exchange of best practices between the two countries is expected to improve protection and awareness about India's range of intellectual creations which are as diverse as its people, including patents, trademarks, designs and geographical indications.
  
• India, US sign pacts to enhance cooperation in health sector
  India and the US on 25th June signed a series of agreements on health, seeking to enhance cooperation in areas such as cancer research, infrastructure development and application of new diagnostic technologies. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cancer Research and a Letter of Intent on Anti-microbial Resistance Research were signed by Health Secretary B P Sharma and US Ambassador to India Richard Verma.
  
  The collaboration will be in the areas for conducting research and training on development of low-cost technologies, diagnostics of existing medications against common cancers and development of existing therapies related to oncology. The MoU will focus on cancer research, projects on population-based cancer control, E-health and M-health.
  
• India to set up Emergency Ambulance Service in Lanka
  India will set up an Emergency Ambulance Health Protection Service in Sri Lanka with 50-crore rupee assistance. The decisions taken at the Cabinet, Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Mr Rajitha Senarathne said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka earlier this year had promised to help the country in setting up an emergency ambulance system in line with the one that exists in India. According to Senarathne said the project will be implemented in four stages. In the first phase India will be giving 88 Ambulances which will be deployed in Western and Southern provinces, he added. A total of 297 ambulances will be given by India to Sri Lanka and 2 thousand health workers will be trained for providing emergency health services
  
• India signs motor vehicles pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal
  India on 15th June signed a major motor vehicles pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal, BBIN to enable seamless transit of passenger and cargo vehicles among them. The agreement was signed by the Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari with his Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepalese counterparts at a meeting in Thimpu, Bhutan. A joint statement issued after the meeting, said that the agreement will not only reduce transport costs but also foster development of multi-modal transport and transit facilities.
  
  The move will also enable increased connectivity and promotion of greater trade between the four countries. As per the agreement, the four SAARC countries will carry out a six-month work plan from July for the implementation of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement. According to the statement, India will work on signing a similar motor agreement with Myanmar and Thailand.
  
• India to bring 150 nations under e visa scheme
  According to the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism Dr Mahesh Sharma Union Government plans to cover 150 countries under the e-visa scheme by the end of the year. The number of foreign tourists arriving in India has increased by 10 percent over the last year. Already around 1,36,000 tourists had already availed of the e-visa scheme, that is currently applicable to 77 nations.
  
• India, Kazakhstan hold talks over cooperation in energy sector
  India and Kazakhstan have decided to cooperate in Energy Sector. India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on 17th June co-chaired a meeting of India-Kazakhstan Inter Governmental Commission with Energy Minister of Kazakhstan, Vladimir Shkolnik.
  
  Both countries agreed to conduct a feasibility study on transportation of crude oil and gas from Kazakhstan to India via pipeline or as LNG. Cooperative initiatives in various other sectors including health, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, tourism, civil aviation, mining, textiles and sports were also discussed.
  
• Tanzanian President invites Indian investment in agriculture, tourism
  According to President of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete on 18th June, India can explore investments in various sectors in Tanzania as the African country offers a positive, peaceful, stable, predictable and competitive ecosystem to foreign investment community.
  
  On 18th June India-Tanzania Trade and Investment Forum in New Delhi was held. As per Tanzania top leaders, India could explore investment opportunities in many sectors including agriculture and livestock development, natural resources, tourism, manufacturing, oil and gas exploration and production and mining. Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete at present visiting India.
  
• India offers Tanzania expertise in natural gas sector
  India on 19th June offered its expertise to Tanzania in development of its potentially rich natural gas sector. The two countries inked eight MoUs in various fields including Agriculture, Tourism and Hydrography to expand engagement in different sectors. The agreements were signed after delegation level talks between Prime Minister NarendraModi and President of Tanzania JakayaMrishoKikwete in New Delhi.
  
  The MoUs signed include a loan agreement between Exim Bank and Tanzanian government on a line of credit for 268.35 million dollars for extension of Lake Victoria pipeline project.
  
  Noting that Terrorism is a matter of concern for both countries announced establishing of a Joint Working Group to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism. The agreements are bound a fillip to bilateral cooperation. Bilateral trade is heavily in India's favour and New Delhi is looking for opening up for more sectors for investments and exports in Tanzania.
  
• Railway ministry to send team for India-Bangla rail project
  To push India-Bangla rail extension project, Railways ministry would be sending a high level team to expedite the process soon. The decision of sending the Railway Ministry team to have a first-hand knowledge about the proposed rail project was taken at a meeting of NITI Aayog held in Delhi on June 18, said Transport Secretary Samarjit Bhowmik.
  
  NITI Aayog in the meeting decided to implement the railway extension project from Agartala to Gangasagar (Bangladesh) by 2017. It was estimated that Rs 302 crore would be required to acquire land for the 5 km railway track in Indian side.
  
• Swiss firms to help in skilling India
  Swiss companies in Pune are joining hands to set up a centre of excellence for manufacturing that will provide vocational education at par with institutes in Switzerland. The centre will be set up as a not-for-profit organization under the Indian company law. This initiative is being rolled out in alliance with Malhotra Weikfield Foundation, which has offered land for the purpose at Koregaon Bhima near Pune. The centre — which is expected to be operational in 2016-17 — will offer four-year courses in polymechanics, mechatronics, welding and design. It is supported by AZW, Skillsonics, Gherzi Engineering and Cleantech Switzerland.
  
• India, Bangla settle border controversy
  Marking a new high in bilateral ties, India and Bangladesh on 6th June sealed a historic deal to settle the 41-year-old land boundary dispute through exchange of territories, removing a major irritant in bilateral ties. On the first day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden visit, the two sides swapped documents regarding the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) that paves the way for the operationalisation of the 1974 pact under which 161 enclaves under the control of either countries will be exchanged. The instruments of ratification were exchanged in the presence of Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina besides West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Bangladeshi counterpart Shahid-ul Haque signed the protocol.
  
• Land pact roll out n next 11 months
  Bangladesh and India will implement the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) of 1974 and Protocol of 2011, in a phased manner over the next 11 months. Between July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the entire process, including physical exchange of enclaves and land parcels in adverse possession along with boundary demarcation, will be completed, according to the letters exchanged between the two Foreign Secretaries during the Prime Minister’s visit to China
  
  Perhaps the most significant date is July 31, 2015 — the “Appointed Day.” The enclaves on both sides of the border “shall stand transferred to the other” by the midnight of the day.
  
  The countries will exchange strip maps showing the narrow stretch of territory, completing the transfer of territorial jurisdiction, while the ground demarcation of the boundary will be completed by the respective Survey Departments by June 30, 2016.
  
  The two countries have also outlined the modalities of an immensely complex process of settlement of immovable property. The dwellers, who are hoping to move from an enclave to another country as proper citizens for the first time since Independence, will have to provide “details of the records and specifications of immovable property” to the local district administration. The details will be posted in the public domain by the administrations and the governments will “facilitate remittance of sales proceeds” of the property.
  
  The Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary working group will address any dispute that “may arise after the transfer for the next five years till June 2020.” Both sides have agreed “to conduct a joint visit to the enclaves” to address the complex and controversial issues.
  
  With India and Bangladesh planning to complete, between July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the entire process of the Land Boundary Agreement and the 2011 Protocol, one of the terms of the joint team of representatives visiting the enclaves would be to identify the “residents who wish to continue to retain the nationality they hold prior to the actual transfer of territory.” To determine the size of the population in the 162 enclaves is one of the many issues.
  
• India and China firms to develop macroeconomic models
  India’s NITI Aayog and China's Development Research Centre (DRC) will collaborate to understand the latest ways to calculate economic growth, besides developing other macro-economic parameters and models. These parameters and models can, then, become a reference and basis for assessing future economic growth in both the countries.
  
  According to officials, the cooperation between the two could be in the form of understanding GDP methodology, competition between sectors, status of agriculture and models involved in reaching a particular goal.
  
  DRC in China functions under the overall supervision of the state council, which is a council of all state governments, and acts as policy research and consulting institution. However, it is not counterpart of NITI Aayog.
  
  China's National Development Reforms Commission (NDRC) could be considered the Aayog's counterpart, but the former has a much wider role. The Commission is sometimes referred to as 'mini-state council' and 'number one ministry'. It has broadly 26 functional departments with around 900 civil servants.
  
  The major function of DRC, on the other hand, is to conduct advanced research on the overall strategic and long-term issues in the economic and social development. It also conducts research on relevant problems related to reforms and opening up of certain sectors. It provides policy options and consulting advice to the Central Committee and the State Council. Since its inception, DRC has done in-depth research on issues related to national development in China.
  
  An agreement between NITI Aayog and DRC will enhance the role of the former as the main think-tank of the Government of India.
  
  However, the current agreement is limited to macro-economic issues. China, which calls itself a manufacturing hub, has focused more on industrialisation over the past few decades through a combination of policy initiatives and measures.
  
  India, on the other hand, moved at a greater speed towards services. Despite the new methodology of GDP calculation giving more share to manufacturing, its contribution to the economy is only 17 per cent. On the other hand, services, including construction, contributes 61 per cent. With the Make in India campaign, India plans to increase the share of manufacturing to 25 per cent over a decade.
  
  India's new GDP methodology has puzzled many experts, including leading economists, since other parameters of the economy do not corroborate high economic growth in recent times. The country's economy rose 7.3 per cent in 20014-15, slightly less than 7.4 per cent by China in 2014. However, in the January-March quarter, India's economy grew 7.5 per cent, higher than China's 7 per cent in the same period.
  
  Agreements in a nut shell
  • NITI Aayog and China’s Development Research Centre enter into agreement for cooperation on economic models
  • Initially, the agreement was to be between Department of Economic Affairs and DRC, but was later transferred to NITI Aayog
  • This could lay the foundation for more such cooperation between the two countries to understand their economic models
  • Since its inception, DRC has done indepth research on China’s national development
  • The Planning Commission, NITI Aayog's predecessor, too has entered into a broad agreement with China
  
  
• India, Japan, Australia trilateral discussions
  India, Japan and Australia on 9th June 2015 held their first ever high-level trilateral dialogue in Indian capital New Delhi. The talks were attended by Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar, Japanese vice foreign minister Akitaka Saiki and Australian secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Varghese. The representatives of three countries discussed prospects of cooperation in the fields of economy and security with special emphasis on maritime security. The three countries agreed to hold their next round of talks in Tokyo, Japan.
  
• India, Sweden sign 6 pacts to boost co-operation
  India and Sweden on 1st June signed six agreements to enhance bilateral co-operation between the two countries. These includeMemorandum of Understandings on….
  • Sustainable Urban Development
  • Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Health and
  • Visa waiver programme for diplomatic passport holders.
  
  The agreements were signed in presence of President Pranab Mukherjee and Swidish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven at Stockholm
  
  Besides 16 education related agreements were also signed among various Indian Universities and it'sSwidish counterparts.
  
  President Pranab Mukherjee met the Swidish Premier Stefan Lofvan and discussed various aspects of bilateral relations. It is understood that both the leaders also discussed on enhancing trade and investment opportunities between the two countries. Sweden is third largest trade partner of India President also exchanged opinion for successful implementation of Make in India Programme in which Swidish have big capabilities.
  
• India to grant e-Tourist visa facility to Swedish nationals
   India has decided to grant the e-Tourist visa facility to Swedish nationals. The President Pranab Mukherjee has announced that this category of visas will greatly facilitate travel for Swedish nationals to India . The President invited the Swedish industry to make full use of the new investment opportunities in India.
  
• India, Belarus sign six agreements to boost bilateral co-operation
  India and Belarus on 3rd June signed six agreements to enhance bilateral co - operation. These include agreement on Textiles, protocol to amend the agreement between two countries for avoidance double taxation, MOU between PrasarBharati and National State TV and Radio company of Belarus Broadcasting Corporation in the presence of Indian President and his Belarussian Counterpart.
  
  Indian President Mukherjee also had delegation level talks with the President of Belarus where Mr Mukherjee called for strengthening bilateral relations and co- operation in the field of trade , culture and other areas.
  
• Indian President conferred HonorisCausa
  President Pranab Mukherjee was conferred with the Professor HonorisCausa by the Rector of the University at Sergey Ablameyko.Later Pranab Mukherjee unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Belarus State University.The President unveiled the bust at the university in the presence of Prof Sergey V Ablameyko, Rector of Belarusian State University and Minister of Education of Republic of Belarus.
  
• Sweden supported India membership in UNSC
  Sweden has backed India's bid for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council, saying the country is a natural claimant for it in view of its size as well as growth
  
  Sweden also supported India's entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a voluntary association of 34 countries favouring non-proliferation of unmanned delivery systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.
  
  India and Sweden also signed several agreements on 1st June to boost ties and decided to restart the bilateral strategic dialogue besides finding ways for investment by the Nordic country in India's defence sector under the ambitious 'Make in India' initiative.
  
  It was agreed that the two countries would re-start their strategic dialogue between the two National Security Advisors. Asked why the dialogue was stalled in 2011, Sarna made it clear that there was no breakdown in the talks but only that the two countries had got into election mode. As many as 15 agreements between various universities of India and Sweden were signed on the sidelines of the visit at the Swedish foreign ministry.
  
• India-US defence agreement
  India and the United States have sealed an agreement to jointly develop protective gear for soldiers against biological and chemical warfare, and another on building generators on 3rd June.
  
  The projects were cleared as U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter held talks with Indian leaders to expand security ties between countries that were on opposite sides of the Cold War but have since drawn closer against the rising weight of China.
  
  The United States has become one of the main sources of weapons for the Indian military, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make-in-India" program has offered joint development and production of military technologies. While the two projects approved are modest in scale, India and the United States are also exploring collaboration at the higher end of technology
  
  Carter signed a new 10-year defense cooperation pact with his Indian counterpart Manohar Parikkar and agreed to work on enhancing cooperation in maritime security, according to a joint statement released after the two leaders met.
  
  The two countries conduct annual naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, where China has increased its presence in recent years. The projects on protective clothing and next-generation power sources for the battlefield will each have $1 million in funding shared equally by the two sides.
  
• India, Netherlands to fight terrorism
  India and the Netherlands will collaborate on fighting terror and cyber crime and have decided to set up a joint working group on counter terrorism, which will hold its first meeting on June 19. Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is on two day visit to India, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
  
  Both countries agreed that they stand to benefit from closer bilateral and multilateral collaboration in areas of countering terrorism and extremism.
  
  The two nations, which are keen to forge an alliance to fight terror and cyber crime, are also looking to increase bilateral trade and will sign as many as 18 agreements for water management, infrastructure development, defence and maritime cooperation.
  
  The Netherlands is part of the group of countries led by the United States that is helping to break the fighting power of the IS terrorist organisation; it has deployed military trainers to help Iraqi and Kurdish armed forces, personnel and F-16s for air strikes.
  
  The visiting Dutch delegation offered its expertise in flood waters control and for cleaning the river Ganga under the ‘Namami Gange programme.’ The Netherlands which has supported New Delhi’s bid for permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council is also looking at collaboration with India in the defence sector and infrastructure development, particularly in Mumbai.
  
  India, which is the fifth largest source of investments for the Netherlands, for its part has announced e-visas for Dutch visitors to give tourism as fillip. The two countries will sign agreement on manufacturing of dredgers in India at the Cochin shipyard, on manufacturing of measles and rubella vaccine with transfer of technology, and collaborate on developing coastal roads and metro lines in India, borrowing Dutch expertise.
  
• India and Bangladesh ink 22 pacts
  India and Bangladesh on 6th June inked 22 agreements, including on extending a $2 billion Line of Credit to Bangladesh, and on India using the Chittagong and Mongla ports. The agreements are 
  • Exchange of Instruments of Ratification of 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol
  • Exchange of letters on Modalities for implementation of 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and its 2011 Protocol
  • Bilateral Trade Agreement (renewal)
  • Agreement on Coastal Shipping between Bangladesh and India
  • Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (renewal)
  • Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Cooperation in the field of Standardization
  • Agreement on Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati bus service and its Protocol
  • Agreement on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala Bus Service and its Protocol
  • Memorandum of Understanding between Coast Guards
  • Memorandum of Understanding on Prevention of Human Trafficking
  • Memorandum of Understanding on Prevention of Smuggling and Circulation Fake Currency Notes
  • Memorandum of Understanding between Bangladesh and India and for Extending a New Line of Credit of $2 billion by government of India to government of Bangladesh
  • Memorandum of Understanding on Blue Economy and Maritime Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean
  • Memorandum of Understanding on use of Chittagong and Mongla ports
  • Memorandum of Understanding for a Project under IECC (India Endowment for Climate Change) of SAARC
  • Memorandum of Understanding on Indian Economic Zone
  • Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2015-17
  • Statement of Intent on Bangladesh-India Education Cooperation (adoption)
  • Agreement between Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for leasing of international bandwidth for internet at Akhaura
  • Memorandum of Understanding between University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India for Joint Research on Oceanography of the Bay of Bengal
  • Memorandum of Understanding between University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh and University of Jamia Milia Islamia, India
  • Handing over of Consent Letter by Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), Bangladesh to Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), India to start operations in Bangladesh.